Quai De Bourbon

The broader record is solid without being flashy. Four wins and eight places from 13 races — winning roughly 1 in every 3 — puts Quai De Bourbon in the reliable rather than spectacular category, the sort of horse that earns its keep and rarely embarrasses itself. It is trained by Willie Mullins, whose yard at Muine Bheag in Co Carlow has sent out 237 winners already this season. That is not a typo. When you are part of that operation, you are surrounded by excellence, which means standards are high and competition for the best rides is fierce.

The concern right now is form. Quai De Bourbon has not won in its last six races, and its recent results — two third-place finishes amid a string of blanks — suggest a horse that is competitive enough to show up but not quite finding that extra gear when it matters. The last win came at Gowran Park back in January 2025, which is now over 14 months ago. In racing terms, that is a long time to be waiting.

It raced 27 days ago and is still active, so the yard clearly believe there is more to come. The first win came at Naas in December 2023, and the career arc since then has been one of a horse that knows how to win but is currently in one of those frustrating patches that tests patience. Whether Townend is back on board and whether the right opportunity presents itself will be the key questions. When those two things have aligned before, the results have been impressive.