Relieved Of Duties

Both of his career wins have come on wet or muddy ground, and that detail matters more than it might seem. With 2 wins from just 3 races in those conditions — a remarkable two-thirds success rate — Relieved Of Duties isn't merely tolerating soft ground, he's thriving on it. Some horses merely cope when the rain comes; this one seems to come alive.

He is trained by Gordon Elliott at Longwood in County Meath, one of the most powerful yards in jump racing. Elliott's team has sent out 209 winners already this season — a number that reflects an operation running at extraordinary volume and quality. Within that powerhouse, Relieved Of Duties has carved out his own small story. Elliott has spoken with genuine enthusiasm about the horse since switching him to fences, describing him as looking like a different animal altogether. He went to Cheltenham — one of the most demanding tracks in the world — and held his own in what Elliott called a hot enough race, which from a trainer not given to unnecessary flattery means something. The assessment is that he jumps well, handles two miles on decent ground, and has every reason to keep improving.

Jack Kennedy has been in the saddle for 5 of his 13 races, winning once together — a 1-in-5 record that mirrors the horse's overall win rate but hints at a partnership still building chemistry. His most recent win came at Fairyhouse in October 2025, seven months ago, and with the horse having raced just one day ago, the team clearly has ambitions to keep him busy. The trajectory here — better ground, a new discipline over fences, a trainer who believes in him — points to a horse whose best chapters may still be ahead of him.