His partnership with jockey Michael Kenneally looks like one worth watching. The two have raced together five times and won twice — a win rate of 40%, or 2 wins from every 5 races together. That kind of record between a horse and rider suggests a real understanding has developed, and when Kenneally's name appears in the racecard alongside James The Brave, it is worth paying attention.
The horse clearly has a thing for wet ground. On soft, muddy conditions he has won 2 of just 3 races — a remarkable 67% win rate. That is not luck; that is a horse who genuinely thrives when the ground gets testing and others find it harder work. Trainer Padraig Butler, based in Bandon, County Cork, will be watching the weather forecasts closely. His yard has sent out 3 winners this season and James The Brave is very much leading the charge.
The horse only had his first career win in October 2025 at Killarney, so in some ways this is still a relatively new story. But it is gathering pace fast. He won at Wexford just this week — on 10 April 2026 — and raced only a day ago, meaning he is bang in form and being campaigned confidently. When a trainer keeps running a horse this regularly, it usually means the horse is in great shape and the yard believes the time is now. On the evidence available, it is hard to argue otherwise.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limerick Galloping |
4 | 4 other | 12 Mar | 0% |
| Punchestown Galloping |
3 | 1 win, 1 second, 1 third | 18 Feb | 33.3% |
| Galway Tight |
2 | 2 other | 8 Sep | 0% |
| Wexford Sharp |
1 | 1 win | 10 Apr | 100% |
| Killarney Sharp |
1 | 1 win | 5 Oct | 100% |
| Navan Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 1 Mar | 0% |
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 25 Jan | 0% |
| Cork Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 8 Dec | 0% |
| Tramore Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 14 Apr | 0% |