Metamorpheus

The first win came at Punchestown in January 2023, and at the time trainer Andrew McNamara was eyeing bigger targets — he mentioned in a stable tour that month that the plan was to aim the horse at the Boodles, one of the most prestigious festival races, provided it could squeeze into the field. Whether that ambition was ever realised we don't know, but it speaks to the fact that McNamara, based at Athboy in County Meath, has always believed there's a decent horse in here somewhere. His yard has sent out seven winners this season, so it's a yard in decent form.

The most recent win came at Sligo just two months ago, in May 2026, which means Metamorpheus is heading into its current campaign off the back of something concrete. The recent form reads 1-3-2-4-4 going backwards from that win — a second and a third on either side of it — which is quietly the best sequence of its career. It's a horse that seems to be running into form at seven, rather than out of it.

The sweet spot in terms of trip appears to be around a mile and three to a mile and four furlongs, where it has won 1 from 7 races — a 14% win rate, or roughly 1 in every 7 at that distance. That might not sound dramatic, but for a horse winning less than 1 in 18 overall, finding a distance where those numbers nearly triple is genuinely significant. The partnership with Sean Flanagan hasn't clicked yet — no wins from five rides together — but with a race just yesterday and a horse running with renewed confidence, Metamorpheus is worth keeping an eye on.