Sky Lord

The record, on the surface, is modest: 1 win from 10 races, which works out at roughly 1 in every 10. But context softens that number considerably. That sole win came at Cork in December 2024, and De Bromhead was quick to flag afterwards that this was a horse the yard thinks highly of — one who jumped well, travelled smoothly, and benefited from a decent gallop. Those are the kinds of comments trainers tend to mean. Since then, Sky Lord has gone 6 races without a win, but a string of third and fourth-place finishes tells you this is a horse competing honestly rather than one that has lost the thread entirely.

What makes the next chapter more interesting is the direction De Bromhead has chosen. After an eighth-place finish at the Cheltenham Festival — the biggest stage in jump racing — the trainer was measured rather than deflated, describing it as "a little bit disappointing" but pointing firmly to what comes next: a move over fences. De Bromhead sees Sky Lord as a "big chasing type", built for the jumping game rather than hurdles. Switching disciplines is a genuine fresh start, not a consolation prize, and plenty of horses have found their true level once pointed at a fence.

There is one condition attached. De Bromhead has said he will wait for ease in the ground — wetter, softer conditions rather than fast, dry turf. That is a specific preference, not a vague one, and it suggests the team knows exactly what brings the best out of this horse. Most regular partner Darragh O'Keeffe has ridden Sky Lord in 7 of his 10 races, winning once together — a partnership that knows the horse well heading into this new chapter over fences.