Rexem

Rexem really comes alive on normal ground. Four of his five career wins — 4 from 15 races at 27%, roughly 1 in every 4 — have come in standard conditions, and that preference is no accident. Rider Ben Harvey, who knows the horse well having won 3 of their 10 races together (30%, or almost 1 in every 3), has pointed out that Rexem is a stayer who quickens off a strong gallop and jumps well. He likes to race on ground that suits his stride, not heavy or muddy surfaces that ask different questions of a horse. Harvey has also noted that it took a few runs to figure him out, but once they did, everything clicked into place.

His spiritual home appears to be Downpatrick, where he has won 2 races from just 5 visits. That is a 40% win rate — an extraordinary return at any track — and it suggests the course suits him in a very particular way, whether that is the shape of the track, the distances on offer, or simply the atmosphere he travels well to. His very first win came there in July 2022, and he has kept going back and delivering.

The one honest question mark is class. When Rexem has been stepped up to some of the better-quality races — Class 2 level — he has drawn a blank in all four attempts. The trainer has spoken openly about a disappointing run at Cheltenham where the horse got wound up travelling and boiled over before the race, and has suggested that racing at that level in Britain may need the horse to be settled and relaxed enough to justify the trip. That patience feels well-placed. McConnell's yard has sent out 36 winners this season, so the operation clearly knows what it is doing, and they have taken their time with Rexem rather than forcing the issue. His last win came at Clonmel in October 2025. Whether another is around the corner, the form suggests he will not be far away.