Urban War

Trained by John Joseph Hanlon at his yard in Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Urban War competes at Class 4 level — the middle tier of the sport, not the top table, but not the bottom rung either. The Hanlon yard has sent out 11 winners already this season, so the operation clearly knows how to get horses to the winner's enclosure. Urban War, though, has not added to that tally. In five attempts at Class 4, it has drawn a blank every time, which raises a reasonable question about whether this horse's best days are already behind it.

At eight years old, there is still time to turn things around, but the numbers are not flattering. Zero wins from 13 races is a hard record to dress up, and the recent form — finishing as far back as 20th in one of its last six outings — suggests this is a horse finding life tough rather than a horse on the verge of a breakthrough. The four career places are something, proof that Urban War has at least been competitive at moments, but they are becoming a more distant memory as the winless run stretches on.