Act Of God

The best days came a few years back. Act Of God broke its duck at Gowran Park in October 2021, then followed up with a win at Wexford in August 2022 — and that Wexford victory is still the most recent one on the record, now almost four years ago. Since then, 6 races have passed without a win, and the recent form figures of 14-4-10-blank-13-7 paint a picture of a horse that has found things tough, with that fourth place the only real bright spot in recent outings.

There is a glimmer of something interesting tucked inside the career numbers, though. Over longer distances — between a mile and six furlongs and two miles — Act Of God has won 1 from 3 races, which is a 33% win rate. That is a genuinely strong return at that trip, better than 1 in every 3 races, and suggests that when the conditions are right and the distance suits, this horse is a different proposition. The trainer, David Kenneth Budds, based in Co Waterford, has sent out 2 winners this season and will know better than anyone that getting Act Of God back to those longer trips is the most obvious route back to the winner's enclosure.

Raced just yesterday, so whatever comes next is not far away. At 11, the clock is ticking — but horses have surprised people before, and a yard that keeps faith with an old campaigner usually has its reasons.