In Excelsis Deo

The story starts at Hereford in December 2022, where the horse announced itself with a debut win that, by Bolger's own admission, caught the yard by surprise. What followed was a familiar pattern for horses that win early and impress: a swift move up in class, stiffer competition, and a period of finding things a bit harder. That humbling stretch made what happened at Cheltenham on 17 April 2024 all the more satisfying. Bolger described the feeling afterwards as relief as much as joy — the horse had been running consistently well without quite getting the luck it needed. Jockey Jonathan Burke, who has been in the saddle for 8 of its 18 races, nursed it perfectly into contention and the horse found what it needed climbing the famous Cheltenham hill. A Class 1 winner at Cheltenham. Job done.

Since that peak, however, the last 25 months have brought no further wins across 6 races. The recent form figures — a couple of wins buried earlier, but nothing since — suggest a horse that is competitive without quite recapturing that Cheltenham level. At its best in top-class races, it has won 1 from 4 at that level, a 25% win rate that is actually a strong return when the quality of the competition is considered. With Bolger's yard in good form this season — 14 winners already — and the horse active as recently as yesterday, there is every reason to think another crack at the races that suit it best is not far away. Whether it can find that Cheltenham magic again is the question. It has done it once. That counts for a great deal.