Nas Na Riogh

Those two wins came in quick succession in spring 2024. He broke his duck at Tipperary in April, then backed it up with another win at Killarney the following month. De Bromhead had explained that a frustrating mid-season dip the year before led the team to give him a break and freshen him up — and it clearly worked, with the horse battling well on both occasions when the chances came. The stable's representative noted after Tipperary that they had hoped better ground conditions would bring out the best in him, and that chasing — jumping fences rather than hurdles — was always the longer-term plan.

The most telling statistic in his record is what happens when the ground is wet and soft underfoot: he has won 2 of his 8 races in those conditions, a win rate of 25%, or roughly 1 in every 4. On any other type of ground, he is yet to win. That is a very clear signal about what this horse needs to perform.

Since that Killarney victory 27 months ago, however, he has not won in six attempts, with his most recent finishes reading 10th, 10th, a pulled up or non-completion, 11th, 4th, and 6th. His regular partner Darragh O'Keeffe has ridden him seven times without a win together. De Bromhead's yard has been in excellent form this season — 110 winners is a serious number — so the talent is clearly there around him. Whether Nas Na Riogh can rediscover his spring 2024 form, ideally on a soft-ground day over fences, remains the open question.