Faceman

His overall career numbers tell a solid story: 3 wins and 7 places from 14 races, a win rate of around 1 in every 5 outings. That is a horse who is competitive more often than not — seven places means he is regularly in the mix, not just making up the numbers. The current spell of form is particularly sharp. His last six races read 1, a fall or unseated, 5, 3, 4, 1 from most recent back, which means two wins in that stretch and a run just yesterday. This is a horse in the middle of an active campaign, not one being saved for a rainy day.

Ground conditions matter enormously in racing, and Faceman has given a clear signal about his preferences. On normal, standard ground he has won 3 of his 6 races — exactly half. That is an exceptional ratio and tells you that when conditions are neither wet nor baked dry, this horse is a serious contender. Trainers and owners spend a lot of time watching weather forecasts for exactly this reason.

His most trusted partner in the saddle is Brian Hayes, who has ridden him in 6 races and come home in front twice — a win rate of 1 in 3, which is a genuinely strong partnership record. The fact that Kelly keeps booking Hayes suggests both sides see something working there. Kelly himself is having a productive season, with 13 winners already sent out from the Tipperary yard, so Faceman is part of a team in good form across the board.

The most recent win came at Kilbeggan just this week, on 15 May 2026 — his second victory at the track following his first there back in July 2025. For a horse who has taken this long to find his best, the pieces are clearly coming together at exactly the right place.