Pride Of Donegal

That said, the overall record tells a more complicated story. Across 16 races, Pride Of Donegal has won just 2 — roughly 1 in every 8 outings — with a further 7 places showing the horse is competitive without always finding top gear. At the level Johnston typically targets with him, Class 4 races, the horse has actually drawn a blank in five attempts, which is a touch ironic given that is supposedly his comfort zone. The wins have come when conditions and equipment aligned rather than through sheer dominance of a grade.

The visor victories came at Kempton Park in October 2025 and then at Wolverhampton in April 2026, both on artificial surfaces that reward consistency and a clear head. After the Wolverhampton win, the handicapper — the official who adjusts a horse's weight to make races more competitive — raised his rating sharply, which Johnston admits forced his hand. He ran the horse back quickly at Thirsk, where Pride Of Donegal finished third, but Johnston is candid that this horse prefers more recovery time between races. He takes his runs hard, and rushing him carries a cost.

Johnston's yard has been in outstanding form this season, sending out 131 winners, so Pride Of Donegal is operating inside one of the busiest and most productive training operations in the north of England. The plan is to step him up in trip to a mile and a half at the Guineas meeting, a classic fixture on the British calendar. It is an ambitious target, but Johnston clearly believes there is more to come from this horse now that the visor has unlocked something. The question is whether the handicapper will keep finding ways to make life difficult before Pride Of Donegal can prove the point.