Panda Boy

What makes Panda Boy genuinely interesting right now is his recent form. In his last 6 races he has won twice — that's 2 from 6, a much sharper 1-in-3 ratio that suggests he is very much in the form of his life. His most recent victory came at Naas on 7 February 2026, and he raced again just yesterday, so this is a horse very much in active use, not one being nursed along. That kind of busy schedule at 10 years of age says a lot about his soundness and the confidence Brassil's team have in him.

His partnership with jockey J J Slevin is the dominant thread through his career. Slevin has been in the saddle for 13 of his 24 races, producing 2 of his 4 wins — a win rate of about 1 in 6 together. That's not a barnstorming record, but 13 rides is a serious commitment, and when you look at recent results showing a third and a fifth alongside those two wins, it's clear the combination is clicking. Trainers don't keep booking the same jockey out of habit alone.

Martin Brassil's yard has sent out 13 winners this season, which speaks to a stable in good nick. Panda Boy's first win came at Leopardstown on 28 December 2021 — a quality track, and a meaningful place to get off the mark. He has taken his time adding to that tally, but four wins across a 24-race career for a horse now in his tenth year represents genuine staying power in a sport where many horses come and go far more quickly. He is not a superstar, but he is exactly the type of honest, competitive horse that keeps a yard ticking — and right now, with two wins in his last six races, he looks to be running as well as he ever has.