Gameball

He got off the mark at Ballinrobe in July 2025, but it was his second win that really turned heads. At Punchestown in October, he put in a performance that his trainer Henry De Bromhead described as genuinely impressive — jumping quickly, travelling well, and doing it with a bit in hand. What makes that noteworthy is that Gameball was keen throughout, pulling against his jockey rather than settling into a rhythm. Horses that win while fighting themselves tend to leave plenty of improvement on the table once they learn to relax.

The story behind the horse is a nice one too. Owner Basil Holian spotted him at Ballinrobe — essentially doing his own scouting at the races — and bought him on the spot. The Slattery family, who had trained him previously and won with him, gave De Bromhead a strong personal recommendation, and the horse has backed that up. He wasn't spectacular at home in morning work, but sometimes the ones who save it for the track are the most exciting kind.

De Bromhead, based at Knockeen in Co Waterford, has sent out 107 winners this season — a yard operating at the very top of its game. With that kind of firepower behind him, a horse as promising as Gameball is unlikely to be wasted on small targets. The trainer has already mentioned the Royal Bond — a prestigious Grade One race at Fairyhouse — as a possible next step. That is the sort of race where careers are made. If Gameball can learn to settle and channel that keenness productively, he has the profile of a horse who could run very deep into the winter season.