Solitary Man

His first win came there on 20 July 2023, and he returned just this week to win again on 11 May 2026, so the love affair is ongoing and shows no sign of cooling. He raced only one day ago, which means he is right in the thick of his season and clearly thriving. His recent form reads 1-4-9-4-3-4 — a win and a couple of close efforts sandwiched around some quieter days, which is exactly what you'd expect from a horse being aimed with purpose rather than just kept busy.

The partnership with jockey Darragh O'Keeffe is worth noting. In 16 races together they have won 5 times — that's nearly 1 in every 3, a noticeably better record than Solitary Man's overall average, suggesting the two have developed a real understanding. O'Keeffe clearly knows how to get the best from him.

Trainer E Bolger, based at Bruree in County Limerick, has had 14 winners out of the yard already this season, so this is a team in decent form — and Solitary Man fits neatly into that picture. He handles both normal conditions and slightly soft, wetter ground equally well, winning 2 from 5 on each, which gives the team genuine flexibility in placing him. Some horses need everything to go right; this one has options. What makes Solitary Man interesting isn't some exceptional overall record — it's the way he has turned one particular track into his own personal stage. Five wins from nine visits to Killarney is the kind of stat that makes trainers keep coming back, and right now, there's no reason to think that story is finished.