Banbridge has spent most of his career winning major races over fences, but the ten-year-old showed there is still plenty of speed in those legs when making a successful Flat debut at Gowran Park on Tuesday.
Now, Joseph O’Brien and owner Ronnie Bartlett have an interesting decision to make.
A return to the King George VI Chase remains on the table, as does a run closer to home at Down Royal. But the most intriguing option could take Banbridge considerably further afield, with the Grade 1 American Grand National at Far Hills in New Jersey under serious consideration.
The race takes place at Moorland Farm on Saturday, October 17th, and if Banbridge does make the trip, he would arrive as one of the most accomplished European horses to tackle the famous American contest in recent years.
Banbridge Shows His Class on the Flat
There was something slightly unusual about seeing Banbridge line up in a Flat maiden at the age of ten.
The son of Doyen had already won a Cheltenham Festival race, three Grade 1 chases and a King George before finally having his first run on the Flat.
Sent off at 4/1 for the 1m6f Racing Again September 19th Maiden, Banbridge travelled comfortably in midfield for Joey Sheridan before moving closer approaching the home straight. Once asked for his effort, he quickly went past long-time leader Navy Guitar before pulling clear.
Racing betting has changed considerably in recent years, with many punters now moving between traditional horse racing markets, sports betting, casino games and online bingo sites, but there was still something wonderfully old-fashioned about watching a top-class jumper turn up in a Flat maiden and simply prove too good.
Ballybawn Belter finished strongly to reduce the winning margin to two lengths, but Banbridge was being eased close home and was much better value than the bare margin suggested.
Even O’Brien was surprised by just how well things went. The trainer said they had not expected Banbridge to win and had mainly viewed Gowran as a suitable place to start his season.
More important than the result was the way he travelled through the race and appeared to enjoy himself.
That is particularly encouraging considering this was his seasonal debut, having last run in the Grand National at Aintree, where he unseated JJ Slevin at The Chair.
Why Was Banbridge Running on the Flat?
By all accounts, this was not the beginning of a new career and does not appear to be a permanent switch away from jumping.
Instead, Gowran provided Banbridge with a relatively gentle way of getting his season started on suitable ground.
O’Brien has repeatedly made it clear that Banbridge is at his best when conditions are on the quicker side.
He was withdrawn from the Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in 2023 because of unsuitable ground, before winning the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree a month later, with O’Brien previously describing better ground as particularly important to him.
A 1m6f Flat race on yielding ground therefore offered a useful fitness test without asking him to jump fences on his first start since April.
It also happens to make plenty of sense as preparation for America. Far Hills has regularly produced quick autumn ground, while the American Grand National places much more emphasis on speed than races such as the Aintree Grand National.
A Horse With a Serious CV
Banbridge has been one of the most reliable top-class chasers of recent seasons when getting his preferred conditions.
His first major breakthrough came when winning the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival in 2022. A year later, he claimed his first Grade 1 over fences in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree.
He then produced perhaps his most eye-catching performance over a shorter distance when beating Captain Guinness in the Punchestown Champion Chase in April 2024.
That win opened the door to trying three miles again, and the decision paid off spectacularly at Kempton that Christmas.
Banbridge reeled in the front-running Il Est Francais to win the King George VI Chase under Paul Townend, adding one of British racing’s most famous prizes to his record.
He came agonisingly close to winning it again in December 2025, going down by just a nose to The Jukebox Man.
At his best, then, this is a horse capable of competing with very good opposition from two miles through to three, and that versatility could prove valuable at Far Hills.
What Is the American Grand National?
Despite the name, the American Grand National is very different to its Aintree namesake.
The Grade 1 contest, otherwise known as the Grand National Hurdle Stakes, is staged during the Far Hills Race Meeting at Moorland Farm in New Jersey, one of the biggest days on the American steeplechase calendar.
The 2026 meeting will be held on Saturday, October 17th, and recent editions have been run over two miles and five furlongs over National Fences, making it significantly shorter and less extreme than Aintree.
The 2025 race carried a purse of $250,000 and was won by Gordon Elliott’s Zanahiyr, who narrowly beat fellow Irish challenger Ballysax Hank. In fact, Irish-trained runners enjoyed an extraordinary afternoon at Far Hills last year, with Elliott winning all five jump races on the card.
And it wasn’t a one-off for Irish and British trainers, with Shark Hanlon winning with Hewick in 2022, Nicky Henderson winning with Brain Power in 2019, following up on Elliott’s first win in the race with Jury Duty in 2018.
For 2026, there is also already a Banbridge connection to the race through owner Ronnie Bartlett. Bartlett sent Galvin to Far Hills with Gordon Elliott in 2024 and came within a neck of winning, with the veteran finishing second to Snap Decision after a thrilling three-way finish.
That experience could make another trip across the Atlantic particularly tempting. O’Brien specifically mentioned Galvin after Banbridge’s Gowran victory, saying Bartlett “might be keen to go back to Far Hills with this fellow”.
Will Banbridge Go to America?
It is important to state that nothing has been confirmed yet. O’Brien has made it clear that the American Grand National is only one possibility, with the Champion Chase at Down Royal and another attempt at the King George among the domestic options being considered.
But Gowran may have changed the conversation. Banbridge returned from his summer break, showing enthusiasm, speed and, seemingly, plenty of appetite for racing.
A 2m5f Grade 1 on potentially quick ground now looks a very realistic target for a horse whose best performances have often come when conditions allow him to travel and use his finishing speed.
From a sporting point of view, it would also be fascinating. Banbridge has already won major races at Cheltenham, Aintree, Punchestown and Kempton. At ten years old, the chance to add an American Grade 1 to that list would be something very different.
And after what he showed at Gowran Park, Far Hills suddenly does not seem quite so far-fetched.
