Exceeding

The distance range of 7 furlongs to a mile is clearly where Exceeding is at its most dangerous. Over those trips, the record reads 2 wins from 12 races — that is 1 in every 6, a win rate that stands in sharp contrast to the overall career figures and tells you something important: this horse is not just getting lucky occasionally, it genuinely has an aptitude for that specific test. When the trainer sends it out at that distance, it is worth paying attention.

Andrew Slattery, operating out of Thurles in Co Tipperary, has had a productive season with 60 winners already on the board — a yard clearly in good form. That matters, because horses trained by busy, confident yards tend to be produced fit and ready. Exceeding's recent run of form reads 1-10-2-6-6-7, which in plain terms means a win most recently, a place before that, and some moderate efforts further back — a horse that has visibly picked up in form as the season has gone on.

The one eyebrow-raiser in the profile is the partnership with jockey Cian Horgan. Eight races together, zero wins — a combination that has yet to click despite plenty of opportunities. The Leopardstown win this week came, and it will be interesting to see whether that changes the dynamic going forward. Exceeding raced just one day ago, so the team are clearly not shy about keeping this horse busy while it is in form. With momentum behind it and a clear preferred distance, right now is probably the most interesting moment in Exceeding's career to date.