Heart Wood

The headline moment came at Cheltenham on 12 March 2026 — just four weeks ago — and it was a long time coming in the best possible way. Henry De Bromhead, who trains Heart Wood from his yard in Knockeen, Co Waterford, had sent the horse to Cheltenham the previous year and ridden him conservatively, finishing second in the Ryanair Chase. A fine result, but De Bromhead knew there was more there. This time, with Darragh O'Keeffe in the saddle, the plan changed: go out and race to win. Heart Wood responded by jumping, in De Bromhead's words, like he was winging the fences — electric, whether standing off or getting in tight. It was, the trainer said, a dream run.

De Bromhead's yard has been in outstanding form this season — 107 winners and counting — and Heart Wood has been one of the horses carrying that momentum. The partnership with O'Keeffe has clearly clicked; Rachael Blackmore rode him seven times for a single win, but O'Keeffe has since taken the reins and the results have followed. De Bromhead himself noted the difference: rather than riding Heart Wood to be placed, the instruction is now simply to go and win.

One more detail worth flagging: Heart Wood loves wet, muddy ground. In four races on soft or heavy going, he has won two of them — that's a 50% win rate in conditions plenty of horses hate. It suggests he is not just talented but tough, the kind of horse that doesn't look for excuses when conditions get difficult. With the Ryanair Chase likely on the horizon and a trainer who clearly believes the best is still to come, Heart Wood looks every bit a horse worth following.