Mickey Hulie

Look at the last six runs and you see a horse that has been consistently in the mix. Two wins, a second, and a third feature in that sequence, and crucially, those two wins came back-to-back — both at Limerick on 28 May 2026, just five weeks ago. That is Mickey Hulie's first career win, and the fact it arrived in a double makes it feel less like a fluke and more like a horse that finally found its rhythm on a track that suits it.

The most intriguing subplot here is the jockey picture. Sean Flanagan has ridden Mickey Hulie eight times and has yet to get his head in front — 0 wins from 8 attempts together. That is a long partnership without a winner, though it is worth noting that Flanagan was not in the saddle for those recent victories at Limerick, which raises the obvious question of whether a change of rider made the difference. Kelly's yard has been in decent form this season, sending out 13 winners, so there is no lack of confidence around the operation. Mickey Hulie raced just one day ago and is clearly being kept busy, which suggests the team sees this as a horse in form worth pressing.

At six years old and with the bulk of the career record suggesting a consistent placer rather than a winner, the Limerick breakthrough feels genuinely significant. Some horses need time to work out what they are doing, and the recent upturn — that run of a second, a third, and then two wins — looks like a horse that has found its feet at exactly the right moment.