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Waterford Whispers

There is something quietly frustrating about following Waterford Whispers. This eight-year-old has shown enough ability to win twice from 14 races — a win rate of around 1 in 7 — and has finished in the frame seven times besides, which tells you it is rarely disgraced. But its last victory came at Fairyhouse back in December 2023, and 29 months is a long time to be waiting for that feeling again.Based on TrackLab's AI analysis
Quick Facts
Age
8 years old
Sex
Gelding
Colour
Bay
Father
Westerner
Mother
Tara Belle
Owner
John P McManus
Rating
136

📊 Key Numbers

Career statistics for this horse
14
Career races
2
Wins
14.3%
Win rate
avg ~10%
50%
Place rate (top 3)
avg ~30%
1 days
Since last race

🔍 Full Analysis

TrackLab's AI-generated assessment based on career data and recent form
TrackLab's Detailed Breakdown
Auto-Generated

The partnership with jockey Mark Walsh is where this horse looks most dangerous. Together they have won 2 from 7 races — that is winning nearly 1 in every 3 times they line up together, which is a genuinely impressive ratio. Walsh clearly understands this horse, and when the two combine, you pay attention.

The other thing that matters with Waterford Whispers is the ground. On wet or muddy going, the record reads 2 wins from 5 races — a 40% win rate, or two in every five attempts. That is a horse that transforms when the rain arrives. On better ground it has simply never found the same level, which means the weather forecast matters almost as much as the race card when assessing its chances. Its first career win came at Galway in October 2023, which fits the pattern — autumn racing, soft underfoot, and the horse at its most dangerous.

It raced just yesterday, so it is very much still active and in training. The yard behind it is Henry De Bromhead's operation at Knockeen in County Waterford — one of Ireland's most respected training yards, and currently having a strong season with 107 winners sent out. A horse does not stay in a yard like that without showing something worth believing in. Recent form — a string of mid-field finishes and a couple of placed efforts — suggests Waterford Whispers is close to race fit without quite firing. Whether that spark returns may well depend on the sky overhead.

Strengths & Risks

What the data says works for and against this horse
✓ What works in their favour
Excellent record on soft ground: 2 wins from 5 starts (40%)
⚠ What to watch out for
Poor record on yielding_to_soft ground: 0 wins from 3 starts
Struggles on LH Galloping tracks: 0 wins from 5 starts

🎯 Where This Horse Thrives

Performance broken down by ground, distance, class, and track type
🌧 Ground Conditions
Soft (muddy)
Loves
Soft to heavy (wet)
Unknown
Yielding (slightly soft)
Unknown
Heavy (very wet)
Unknown
Good (firm-ish)
Unknown
Yielding to soft (damp)
Avoids
📏 Race Distance
Long Distance (2M+)
🏅 Competition Level
Class 2 (high-level)
Unknown
🏟 Track Shape
Right-handed, long straights
Right-handed, tight
Unknown
Left-handed, tight turns
Unknown
Left-handed, long straights
Avoids

📅 Recent Runs

The last 10 races, most recent first
6 Apr
DNF
Fairyhouse
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding_To_Soft · 30 runners
12 Mar
8th
Cheltenham
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 24 runners
1 Feb
3rd
Leopardstown
Long Distance (2m+) · Soft · 23 runners
22 Nov
6th
Punchestown
Long Distance (2m+) · Soft_To_Heavy · 8 runners
25 Oct
3rd
Galway
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding · 11 runners
21 Sep
4th
Listowel
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding_To_Soft · 8 runners
28 Dec
7th
Limerick
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding_To_Soft · 8 runners
7 Dec
2nd
Navan
Long Distance (2m+) · Soft · 21 runners
4 May
DNF
Punchestown
Long Distance (2m+) · Soft · 28 runners
15 Mar
2nd
Cheltenham
Long Distance (2m+) · Heavy · 23 runners

🏇 Jockey Partnerships

Every jockey who has ridden this horse, sorted by rides together
28.6%
Win rate
2/7
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/2
Won / Rode
Conor Brassil
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
Mr Alan O'Sullivan(3)
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode
0%
Win rate
0/1
Won / Rode

🏟 Track Record

Win rate at each course this horse has visited
CourseRacesResultsLast visitedWin rate
Fairyhouse
Galloping
3 1 win, 2 other 6 Apr 33.3%
Galway
Tight
2 1 win, 1 third 25 Oct 50%
Punchestown
Galloping
2 2 other 22 Nov 0%
Leopardstown
Galloping
2 1 second, 1 third 1 Feb 0%
Cheltenham
Galloping
2 1 second, 1 other 12 Mar 0%
Listowel
Sharp
1 1 other 21 Sep 0%
Navan
Galloping
1 1 second 7 Dec 0%
Limerick
Galloping
1 1 other 28 Dec 0%