Preparations

The numbers at long distance tell a more encouraging story. In races of two miles or longer, Preparations has won 1 of his 3 attempts — that's a 33% win rate, which is genuinely strong form. His last victory came at Tramore just two weeks ago, and he is currently active, which means he is clearly fit and in work. Recent outings show he is hitting his targets: a win last time out, followed before that by a sixth-place finish and a tenth, suggesting he is competing at a level where he can win but where the form is competitive.

Andrew Slattery trains him from Thurles in County Tipperary, a yard that has sent out 62 winners this season — a sign of a stable firing on all cylinders. Slattery also rides him most often, though that partnership has returned 1 win from 8 races together. The trainer clearly believes in the horse enough to keep him racing, and the fact that Preparations broke his duck at Bellewstown on 3 October 2024 before going on to win again suggests he has learned what it takes to get the job done. For a horse that thrives at distance, Preparations is exactly the type to watch in staying races where stamina matters more than pure speed.