The Tide Turns

That Punchestown win, though, was genuinely eye-catching. The horse jumped cleanly throughout and, in the words of trainer Gordon Elliott at the time, did everything right. Jack Kennedy, who rode that day, felt they might have hit the front a little soon — but the horse held on, and Elliott was effusive afterwards, calling him a nice fun horse and clearly expecting more to come. When a trainer of Elliott's stature talks that way, you pay attention.

What followed was more complicated. A wind operation was carried out — a surgical procedure designed to help a horse breathe more freely at full gallop — and by October 2022 a new trainer, Stephen Allen, was expressing cautious optimism, suggesting the horse could be well placed in the right race if the operation had done its job. That kind of quiet confidence from a yard is worth noting, even if the results since have not quite matched it.

Kennedy has partnered The Tide Turns six times in total, winning once together — that famous Punchestown day — which works out at roughly 1 in every 6 rides. Recent form, however, makes for difficult reading: finishes of 12th, 5th, 10th, and three non-completions in the last six races. Allen's yard has sent out 2 winners this season, so it is an operation capable of finding the right race. The horse raced just yesterday, which means the yard are keeping him busy and believing there is still something to aim at. At 8, time is not exactly on his side — but then again, the name does suggest things can change quickly.