Priorstown

The real story is what happens when Priorstown gets the distances he likes. Over 1 mile 6 furlongs to 2 miles, he has won two of three races (67 per cent), a pattern that tells you exactly what kind of contest suits him. His first career win came at Roscommon in late August, and he has won again since, most recently on 15 October at The Curragh. The other races have been closer things — a second place, a first in the top three, and some runs where he has been nowhere near it — but when the trip is right, he delivers. He is trained by J. P. Murtagh's yard at Coolaghknock Glebe in County Kildare, a stable that has sent out 53 winners already this season and clearly knows how to get horses ready. Priorstown is still actively racing, last out just a day ago, which means the yard are confident enough to keep him sharp and in the thick of things.