Busselton

The headline this week is a win at Punchestown on 30 April 2026 in the La Touche Cup, one of jump racing's most unusual and demanding tests — a race run over a course of natural banks and ditches rather than conventional fences. It was the yard's first ever runner in the race, which makes the win all the more special. Trainer Joseph O'Brien was candid afterwards: the top of the ground is the key to Busselton, and on fast, dry conditions he is a different animal. That checks out in the numbers — on normal ground he wins 3 from 9 (33%), and on slightly soft ground 3 from 8 (38%). He operates best when the surface has some pace in it.

Jockey J J Slevin has been central to the story, riding Busselton in 21 of his 36 races and winning 5 of them — a win rate of 24%, comfortably above the horse's overall average. That kind of consistency with one rider usually means something: they know each other. O'Brien singled out Slevin for a "fantastic ride" at Punchestown, which fits the picture of a partnership that has been quietly building for some time. The assistant trainer, Brendan Powell, described Busselton after his Listowel win as "as hard as nails" — a horse who jumps, stays, and battles. That is not flattery from the team; it is a fair summary of what the record shows.

Based at Bruree in Co Limerick under E Bolger's yard, which has sent out 13 winners already this season, Busselton has been with a stable in decent form. His best distances are 1 mile 6 furlongs to 2 miles, and at Listowel — where his career began with a win in September 2021 — he has won 2 from 3, which qualifies him as a genuine course specialist. His one consistent weakness is at the very top level: in four runs at Class 2 — the highest grade he has faced — he has not won. But then most horses never get close to that level at all. At nine, with a La Touche Cup on his CV and a win just this week, Busselton has more than earned his place in any conversation.