Road Exile

He broke his duck at Limerick in January 2025, and went on to win again at Navan in December 2025 — two wins from seven races that tell the story of a horse who has been gradually finding his level and rising to it. His recent run of form (1-3-1 from his last three completed races, reading back from the most recent) confirms that pattern. He is not a horse who blows hot and cold — he shows up.

The trainer is Gordon Elliott, one of the most powerful operations in Irish racing, based at Longwood in County Meath. Elliott's yard has sent out 209 winners this season alone — a staggering number that puts Road Exile in the company of some seriously good horses. When a trainer of that scale talks up a horse, it is worth paying attention. And Elliott has been doing exactly that. After Road Exile ran below expectations at Punchestown, Elliott was quick to explain it away — the horse appeared to resent being asked to do the hard, pace-setting work in the Moscow Flyer race and simply downed tools. Elliott's view is clear: judge Road Exile on his best days, not on that. He believes there is considerably more to come, and has the Turners — one of the flagship races at the Cheltenham Festival — in mind as a possible target.

Road Exile last ran 33 days ago, giving him a short breather before whatever comes next. If Elliott follows through on those plans, this is a horse stepping up to one of the biggest stages in jump racing. A 29% win rate is impressive at any level, but pulling it off at Cheltenham would be something else entirely.