Sky Lord

Trained by Henry De Bromhead at Knockeen in County Waterford, Sky Lord has the advantage of a yard that knows how to develop talent—De Bromhead has sent out 110 winners this season alone. The trainer has been candid about the horse's journey. After a disappointing eighth-place finish at the Supreme behind Kopek Des Bordes, De Bromhead made clear his thinking: Sky Lord is built for jumping fences, not hurdles. He's a "big chasing type," in the trainer's words, and the plan is to send him over fences when ground conditions suit. De Bromhead prefers to wait for softer, wetter conditions rather than risk him on fast, dry ground. That tells you something about how the yard assesses his strengths—he's not a horse for all weathers, yet.

Darragh O'Keeffe has been his regular jockey, though the partnership hasn't delivered much yet: one win from seven races together. But the post-race comments after recent wins paint a clearer picture of Sky Lord's abilities. After Wexford this week, De Bromhead said the horse "did all the donkey work"—meaning he was asked to do the hard graft up front and still prevailed. He jumped well and travelled smoothly, signs of a horse that handles pressure. The trainer believes he's well worth stepping up in class again. That's encouragement from someone who trains at the highest level, and it suggests Sky Lord's real career might be just beginning.