Farren Glory

The talent is real, though. Farren Glory is trained by Gordon Elliott at Longwood in County Meath, one of the most powerful yards in Irish racing — a team that has sent out 210 winners already this season alone. His most regular partner in the saddle has been Jack Kennedy, and together they have a remarkable record: three wins from seven races, meaning Kennedy has won almost 1 in every 2 times he has climbed aboard. That kind of chemistry between horse and jockey is not accidental.

There is one condition that transforms Farren Glory entirely: wet, muddy ground. On a genuinely soft or heavy surface, he has won 2 of his 3 races — nearly 2 in every 3. Elliott has been candid about this. After the Naas win, he noted the horse was "better on that ground" and pointed to a previous run on unsuitable conditions as the explanation for a poor showing. The trainer also revealed that Farren Glory was entered over fences and was set to run at Limerick before the ground came up too quick, suggesting the team are careful about picking their spots.

What makes this horse's story genuinely compelling is the near-misses. Elliott has said that Farren Glory looks unlucky not to have won two Grade 1 races — the top tier of competition — pointing specifically to a fall at Aintree when the horse appeared to be travelling as well as anything in the field. A fall does not show up in the form as a near-miss, but it shapes how a trainer views a horse. Elliott has also spoken about targeting top-level races in England, including the Tolworth and the Challow, which says everything about the level this horse is considered capable of.

After a short break of 35 days, Farren Glory comes back with something to prove. Find him a wet, muddy track and the right opportunity, and this is a horse that could remind everyone exactly what he is capable of.