Arctic Steps

The most striking number in Arctic Steps' profile is what happens on normal ground conditions. From just 5 races on a standard surface, the horse has won twice — a win rate of 40%, or 2 in every 5. That's more than double the overall career average, and it's the kind of stat that suggests the going really does matter here. When conditions are right, Arctic Steps is a genuinely different proposition.

Trained by Ross O'Sullivan out of Kilcullen in Co Kildare, Arctic Steps is part of a yard that has been firing on all cylinders — 40 winners already this season is a serious output and signals a team in strong form. Jockey Rory Cleary has been the regular partner, riding the horse in 5 of its 17 races and winning once together, a rate of 1 in 5. That's not a flashy partnership on paper, but it's a working relationship with clear familiarity built in.

Recent form tells an interesting story. The last win came at Naas on 9 May 2026 — around 8 weeks ago — and the horse's first career win came at Down Royal on 30 May 2025, meaning the wins are spread across different tracks rather than being dependent on one happy hunting ground. The most recent six runs read 8-9-1-5-2-2: two near-misses at the back end of that sequence, then a win, followed by two disappointing efforts, and another poor run just yesterday. That up-and-down pattern is worth noting — Arctic Steps can reach the podium, but doesn't always find its best. When everything clicks, though, there's clearly a winner in there.