Great Acclaim

The headline number this season is the Class 2 win at Chepstow on 7 August 2025. Class 2 means one of the better races in Britain, so that result confirms Great Acclaim can perform at a decent level when things fall right. That win came nine months ago, however, and the recent form — two near-misses bookending a pair of disappointing mid-field finishes — hints at a horse that is finding life harder than it used to. Johnson Houghton has been candid about why: Great Acclaim won four times last year off a mark of 68, and the handicapper responded by sending him into this season rated 92. That is a significant jump, and it explains why a horse who was winning easily in 2024 has been finding things tougher against stronger company.

The places where Great Acclaim really comes alive are worth noting. On normal ground, the record stands at 3 wins from 7 races — that is 43%, better than winning 2 in every 5 starts, which is outstanding. And at Windsor, where the horse scored its first career win in May 2024, it has won 2 from just 4 visits. That kind of course-specific dominance usually means the horse genuinely suits the track's shape and configuration, not just that it got lucky once.

Regular jockey Charles Bishop has been the constant throughout — 5 of those 6 wins have come with Bishop in the saddle, from 17 races together. That works out at 29%, or roughly 1 in every 3 and a half rides ending in victory, which is a strong partnership by any measure. Johnson Houghton's yard has sent out 42 winners this season, so the operation is in fine form even if Great Acclaim itself is waiting for its moment. If the handicapper gives an inch and the ground comes up right, do not be surprised to see this horse back in the winner's enclosure before long.