Bravo Zulu

The horse is trained by David Loughnane at a yard in Stoke Heath, Shropshire, that has sent out 38 winners this season alone, which tells you this is a well-run operation that knows how to get horses ready to win. Loughnane has been candid about where Bravo Zulu is heading: a recent run at Newmarket on turf saw the horse struggle somewhat, but the trainer is relaxed about it — it was his first time on grass, the ground was on the slow and heavy side, and jockey Richard Kingscote felt he was still green and learning. Loughnane believes fast, dry ground will suit him far better, given his action, and he has Royal Ascot ambitions — specifically the Britannia or Golden Gates Stakes over a mile.

That mile trip is where he is most dangerous. Over seven furlongs to a mile, he has won 4 of his 11 races — 36%, better than 1 in 3 — which is a meaningfully higher rate than his overall record. He also knows Southwell well, winning 2 from 6 there, a course where familiarity clearly counts. When Rossa Ryan is aboard, the numbers become striking: 5 wins from just 7 races together, which is 71% — nearly 3 in every 4 rides resulting in a win. That kind of partnership is rare and worth noting.

He hasn't won his last six races, with his most recent victory coming at Windsor in July 2025 — 11 months back — but Loughnane's tone suggests a horse being pointed at something bigger rather than one in decline. He raced just yesterday, which tells you he remains fit and active. If the trainer gets the fast ground he is waiting for and the Royal Ascot entries come together, Bravo Zulu could be about to make a lot of new fans.