The recent form tells an interesting story, though not an entirely encouraging one. Reading from most recent to oldest, the finishing positions run 3-2-5-7-11-16 — which means Struck Oil has actually been getting sharper lately after a rough patch in the middle of its career. That second-place finish is the highlight: close enough to smell victory, but not quite able to get there. Whether that near-miss becomes the springboard to a first win or stays as the closest call in a winless career is the question worth watching.
What works in Struck Oil's favour is the yard it calls home. Gavin Cromwell operates out of Navan in County Meath and has sent out 97 winners already this season — that is a serious training operation, not a small stable hoping to get lucky. A trainer who wins that consistently knows how to place a horse in the right race at the right moment, and if there is a race out there that suits Struck Oil, Cromwell is well placed to find it. The horse raced just yesterday, so it is fit, active, and in the mix — which at least means the team still believe there is something to work with here.
Zero wins from eight races sounds blunt, but racehorses have made people wait far longer before delivering. The form is trending the right way, the trainer is one of the better ones around, and Struck Oil is only five — young enough to keep improving. The first win is overdue, but it may not be far away.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurles Undulating |
2 | 2 other | 20 Nov | 0% |
| Downpatrick Undulating |
1 | 1 third | 8 May | 0% |
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 11 Oct | 0% |
| Bellewstown Sharp |
1 | 1 second | 18 Apr | 0% |
| Listowel Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 27 Sep | 0% |
| Cork Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 20 Apr | 0% |
| Punchestown Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 2 May | 0% |