Kim Roque
Sticking with the Joseph O'Brien theme, Kim Roque did well to keep on as well as he did to take fourth place in the Kim Muir. This was a big step up in distance for him, up to three miles and two and a half furlongs, for a horse who had never been beyond two miles and six furlongs in his life, and he was held up through the early stages of the race. He made good ground on the run down the hill over the third last fence and, while it never looked like he was going to get to the leaders, he kept on well for John Gleeson over the final fence and up the run-in to take fourth.
This was another race in which the early pace held up well. The first three home all raced prominently, and Kim Roque was the only one of the first seven home who was worse than mid-division early on. He saw out the trip well though, he was third fastest through the final four furlongs, and that opens up options for him. He is only six, he has raced just seven times over fences in his life, and just four times for Joseph O'Brien. Fourth in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham and fifth in the Leopardstown Chase, both over intermediate trips, he could do even better now in staying handicap chases. He holds an entry in the Irish Grand National, and he would be an interesting contender in that if he lined up.
Cheltenham, 12th March 2026
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