Secrecies Of Stone

The key to this horse is the ground. On wet or muddy conditions, Secrecies Of Stone has won 2 of his 5 races — 40%, or very nearly 1 in every 2. That is a dramatic contrast to his overall record and explains everything about how his team at Paul Nolan's yard in Enniscorthy approach him. When it has rained, he becomes a different animal. When it hasn't, you can largely look elsewhere.

His two wins tell a neat story of progression. The first came at Tipperary in July 2024, opening his account after a long wait. The second, and clearly the bigger of the two, arrived at Leopardstown in March 2025 — a much stiffer test at one of Ireland's most prestigious tracks. Winning at Leopardstown means something. It is not a place where moderate horses tend to win, and the fact that Secrecies Of Stone managed it suggests he has real ability when everything lines up.

His recent form does require a bit of patience to read. The last six runs show three blanks followed by a fourth, a ninth, and then that Leopardstown win in reverse order. He was racing just one day ago, so the yard are clearly keeping him busy, and a fourth-place finish in his most recent outing suggests he remains competitive even if the wins have dried up since March. Paul Nolan has had 25 winners from his yard this season, which is a healthy operation, and a trainer in that kind of form tends to know exactly when and where to place a horse like this to maximum effect.

At 8 years old, Secrecies Of Stone is not getting younger, but horses who thrive in muddy ground have a habit of staying relevant longer than most. Keep an eye on the forecast.