Leave Of Absence

The most striking thing about his record is how decisive he becomes on normal ground. On a standard surface, he has won 3 of his 4 races — 75% — which is a remarkable conversion rate for any horse at any level. Take him off that surface and he becomes a different proposition. His trainer Anthony Honeyball, whose yard in Dorset has already sent out 51 winners this season, alluded to this after a disappointing recent run at Cheltenham: he felt the ground didn't entirely suit, and something about how the race was run didn't bring out the best in him either. Tests were being considered before plotting a way back. That kind of transparency from a trainer usually means the horse is in good hands.

Despite that setback, Leave Of Absence did win at Cheltenham back in October 2025 — a Class 2 race, which means one of the better races on the calendar — and Honeyball was full of praise for how the horse handled the track's famous undulations. Cheltenham is not an easy place to navigate, and doing it well is a real marker of quality. He is also a course specialist at Newbury, having won 2 of his 3 races there, and a return to that track was reportedly being considered if he came through his checks in good shape.

The one honest caveat in his profile is what happens at the very top level. In 6 races at Class 1 — the elite tier of British racing — he has yet to win. That's not a disgrace; most horses never even run at that level. But it does suggest that on the biggest occasions, the gap between Leave Of Absence and the very best is still a real one. His jockey Rex Dingle, who knows him well after 8 races together, has won on him twice — 1 in every 4 rides — and that partnership appears to be the settled combination going forward.

He last raced just yesterday, so the next chapter is close. A horse with his course form at Newbury, his trainer in such good form, and normal ground in the forecast would be a compelling watch.