Deuteronomy

The partnership with jockey Nicola Burns looks like a significant part of the equation. In 17 races together, Burns has ridden him to 3 of his 4 career wins — that is winning roughly 1 in every 6 times they team up, which is nearly double his overall rate. When Burns is in the saddle, something clearly works. His first career win came at Gowran Park in June 2025, so this is a horse who has been around long enough to know what he is doing, and who now seems to be hitting a confident patch.

The yard behind him is R P Burns, based in Collinstown, County Westmeath, and the operation has sent out 5 winners already this season — a small but active team that knows how to place a horse to win. On ground conditions, Deuteronomy is notably happier on a normal surface, winning 3 of his 13 races in those conditions — that is nearly 1 in 4, well above his overall average. He also shows a solid return over middle distances of around a mile and three to four furlongs, winning 1 from 5 at that range, which again points to a horse that performs when conditions suit him rather than one who scrambles wherever he is put.

The recent form reads a little patchy — a couple of mid-field finishes either side of a promising run — but the Cork win this week is the fact that stands out. Horses who win and then race again the very next day are either incredibly well in themselves or being trained with real purpose. Either way, Deuteronomy is worth watching right now.