Reverend Hubert

What makes this horse particularly interesting right now is the trajectory of its recent form. Over the last six races, it has won three times — a winning rate of one in every two outings. That is the form of a horse in a purple patch. Most tellingly, those recent wins have come while being ridden by Philip Byrnes, the jockey who has partnered with Reverend Hubert for 10 races across its career and steered it to victory 3 of those times, mirroring his win rate with the horse overall. There is clearly a connection there worth noting. C Byrnes, who trains the horse at Ballingarry in County Limerick, has sent out 26 winners from the yard this season, and Reverend Hubert appears to be a reliable contributor to that tally.

The one meaningful quirk in Reverend Hubert's record is its preference for slightly soft, yielding ground. On such conditions, it has won 2 of its 4 races — a 50 per cent win rate that is almost double its overall average. By contrast, it has managed only 1 win from 6 attempts at the very top level, Class 2 races, suggesting that while it is no slouch, it tends to find its natural level below that elite tier. Still, winning at the top of the game even occasionally is the mark of a horse with talent to spare.