Reverend Hubert

What makes Reverend Hubert genuinely interesting is his form at the top level. Class 2 racing — where only the strongest horses compete — has proved a challenge: he has won just 1 of his 6 races in that grade. But he is thriving at the slightly lower level where most of his races fall, and he appears to have discovered a real winning formula on softer, wetter ground. When conditions are slightly soft underfoot, he wins roughly half his races — 2 wins from 4 — which is a telling advantage. His most recent victory came at Down Royal on 28 August, six weeks ago, and he remains in active racing with a race just a day ago.

Trained by C Byrnes at Ballingarry, in County Limerick, Reverend Hubert has been ridden most often by jockey Philip Byrnes, with whom he has won 3 of 10 races together. The partnership has a solid 30% win rate, suggesting real understanding between horse and rider. With Byrnes' yard having sent out 26 winners this season, there is clearly good form flowing through the stable. For a horse now in his ninth year, Reverend Hubert remains a dependable, consistent performer — not quite elite, but genuinely reliable at the right level and on the right ground.