Firebrand

That one win came at Roscommon back in October 2024, and it remains the solitary high point of a career that has earned place money without ever really threatening to build on it. Twenty-one months have passed since that day, and Firebrand hasn't won since — though the recent form suggests it's not exactly struggling. The last six races read 8, 8, 3, 2, 2, 5 — a pattern of two poor efforts followed by a run of consistent placing that nudges the horse back into relevance. It raced just yesterday, so this is a horse very much in the thick of its campaign right now.

Where Firebrand looks most interesting is at a distance of one mile three furlongs to one mile four furlongs — essentially a middle-distance trip that suits a horse needing time to warm up and room to stretch. At those trips it has won 1 from 4 races, a 25% win rate, which is a completely different animal to the broader career picture. Winning one in four at a specific distance is genuinely strong; plenty of horses never find a trip that suits them that well.

Regular jockey Daniel King has been aboard for six of those races without a win to show for it, which is simply the reality when you're partnering a horse whose win rate is 1 in 20. Trainer John J Nallen has sent out five winners this season, so the yard is clearly capable of getting horses to the line first. The question is whether Firebrand can add to that tally — and given the improving recent form and a distance profile that genuinely plays to its strengths, it would be no great surprise if Roscommon features in the plans again.