Hardy Warrior proves well named in Naas finale Joseph O'Brien and Declan McDonogh registered a double on the afternoon as Hardy Warrior lived up to his name when showing plenty of heart to win the concluding TRM Nutrition Best-Turned-Out Series Back For 2026 Race at Naas. Off the mark in a Leopardstown maiden in July, the Pinatubo colt acquitted himself with credit in two subsequent starts in Group company. Back in calmer waters here, the Millennium Stud SP ZO O owned 13/8 chance made all the running, staying on strongly to beat Take Charge Star by four-and-a-half lengths. “He has good form in the book. I thought he might need the run today to be honest but he does like soft ground,” said O’Brien. “It’s nice to get him started and he’ll step back into a group race of some sort now. “All of his runs have been good, he didn’t have a bad run really.” When asked if he could go for a classic trial he added:- “I’d say he will, that would be the obvious step for him. “Declan said he feels like he’ll go ten furlongs anyway.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
