Secret Force

Those wins came at Listowel in late September 2025 and then at Punchestown in October — two recognisable Irish tracks with proper fields. The Punchestown victory in particular is the kind of result that sharpens people's attention. It is a track that draws quality horses, and winning there in October, just weeks after breaking the duck at Listowel, pointed to a horse building momentum at exactly the right time of year.

Adrian Paul Keatley trains Secret Force from his yard at Ryedale in North Yorkshire. With 40 winners on the board already this season, this is clearly a stable operating in fine form — 40 winners is not a coincidence, it is a yard that knows what it is doing. Keatley has spoken warmly about the horse, describing him as a quality prospect with a strong pedigree who jumps really well — and crucially, who genuinely loves jumping. That enthusiasm for the obstacles is not just a nice detail. Horses that enjoy jumping tend to be more accurate, more confident, and safer to back over a distance.

The long-distance stats reinforce the picture: 1 win from 3 races over 2 miles or more, a 33% win rate at that trip. Win 1 in 3 races at any distance and you are a serious horse. The plan, according to Keatley, is to aim Secret Force at the juvenile hurdle at the Cheltenham November meeting — one of the most famous racing venues in the world. That is not a small target. It is exactly the kind of race where a horse with jumping ability, a pedigree to match, and a trainer in strong form can make a real impression. The last piece of evidence to note: Secret Force raced just one day ago, which means whoever is writing these profiles is working with live, current form. This horse is firmly in the mix.