Joystick

Joystick's overall record reads 3 wins and 4 places from 11 races, a win rate of roughly 1 in every 4. That is a solid career — not a superstar, but a consistent performer who earns its keep. The first win came at Leopardstown on 27 December 2023, a prestigious venue on one of the biggest racing days of the Irish calendar, which is a fine place to get off the mark. The most recent win came at Navan in January 2026, just two months ago, so this is a horse in current form and actively competing.

Recent form — reading from the most recent race back — goes 7-1-6-4-7-2: a win and a second-place finish sandwiched around a couple of disappointing efforts. That kind of pattern is worth understanding rather than dismissing. Some horses simply need the right conditions to unlock their best, and the inconsistency in Joystick's recent runs may well reflect races run on ground that didn't suit. When the mud arrives, a different horse seems to show up.

The trainer behind all of this is W P Mullins, operating out of Muine Bheag in County Carlow — arguably the most successful jumping yard in the world. This season alone, that operation has sent out 237 winners, which is a staggering number and means Joystick is part of an extremely well-resourced team. Having that level of expertise in your corner matters: horses are placed carefully, conditions are monitored, and they tend not to run a horse in the wrong race twice. If Joystick lines up next time on wet ground, that is not a coincidence — it is a plan.