Last Kingdom

The turning point came at Listowel in September when Bramley added cheekpieces—a simple device that helps sharpen a horse's focus and jumping. It worked. Jockey Paul Townend noted afterward that Last Kingdom travelled much sweeter with them on and jumped far better than he had at Galway without them. The horse stayed on ground that was wet and muddy, seeing out the race strongly. That win proved to be more than just a victory; it seemed to confirm that Last Kingdom had found the right equipment and conditions to show what he might be capable of. Bramley mentioned in a recent stable tour that winning the Lartigue at Listowel felt like a genuine step back in the right direction, and she spoke about the cheekpieces as if they had unlocked something. Mark Walsh, his most regular jockey, has ridden him eight times and shared one win together, roughly matching his overall record. The challenge now is repeating that Listowel performance and finding the consistency that has eluded him. At five, he is past his early promise, but Bramley's confidence in what the right setup can do suggests there may be more to come if the pieces fall into place again.