The story starts at Ballinrobe in July 2025, where Gameball broke his duck for the first time. That win caught the eye of owner Basil Holian, who spotted something worth buying. The horse came with a recommendation from the Slatterys, who had already won a race with him and told De Bromhead they really liked him — high praise from people who knew him well. Horses arrive at big yards all the time on the strength of someone's word; not all of them back it up. Gameball did.
His most recent win came at Punchestown in October 2025, and by De Bromhead's account it was a performance that turned heads. He jumped quickly, travelled well through the race, and won in a way that suggested there was more to come. The trainer was candid that Gameball was keen throughout — pulling against his jockey rather than settling — but the talent was obvious enough that the team immediately started talking about the Royal Bond, one of the top early-season hurdle races in Ireland. That is not a conversation you have about ordinary horses.
De Bromhead's yard has sent out 110 winners this season alone, so this is not a small operation casting around for hope. When a trainer of that record singles out a horse for a race of that level, it is worth paying attention. Gameball's recent form reads 2-3-4-1-1 — two wins, then a couple of placed runs, with a third and fourth in his last two outings. The task now, the trainer says, is to get him switching off a little better during races. If they manage that, the ceiling looks considerably higher than where he has been so far.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punchestown Galloping |
2 | 1 win, 1 third | 30 Apr | 50% |
| Ballinrobe Sharp |
1 | 1 win | 22 Jul | 100% |
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 30 Nov | 0% |
| Kilbeggan Tight |
1 | 1 second | 10 Jul | 0% |