Jan Brueghel

What makes Jan Brueghel genuinely formidable is the partnership between horse and rider. Ryan Moore, one of the sport's elite jockeys, has ridden him in 7 races and won 5 of them (71% win rate together). That is a stunning return. Moore rode him to victory at Epsom in the Coronation Cup last June — one of the year's most prestigious races — and the jockey's touch seems to bring out something special in this horse. After a disappointing run at the King George, Moore got Jan Brueghel back to the winners' circle at Chester in May with what the yard described as "a good performance," and the pair look locked in genuine form.

Jan Brueghel is trained by A P O'Brien at Cashel in County Tipperary, one of racing's most powerful yards — O'Brien's stable sent out 125 winners this season alone. The horse shows a particular affinity for The Curragh, where he has won 2 of his 4 races. His recent form has dipped slightly; he has won 2 of his last 6 races, with a third-place finish most recently. But at five years old, with proven Class 1 credentials and a jockey who knows exactly how to ride him, Jan Brueghel remains a serious force. The trainer has hinted at running him again before the Coronation Cup on Derby Day, suggesting the plan is to keep him sharp and competitive for one of the season's marquee races.