Rexem

The most striking thing about Rexem is how clearly he telegraphs what he needs. On normal ground he wins 4 from 13 races, a rate of roughly 1 in 3, which is exceptional. Take him off that surface and the numbers tell a different story. Jockey Ben Harvey, who knows him better than most after 10 races together, has described him as a stayer who can quicken off a good gallop — sharp, a great jumper, and always there when it matters. The advice from inside the yard is plain: give him decent ground and he repays the faith.

He has also developed a real affinity with Downpatrick, winning 2 of his 5 races there. That kind of course record is not luck — it tends to mean a horse genuinely suits the track, whether that is the layout, the ground it tends to produce, or simply the rhythm of the place. His first career win came there back in July 2022, and he has returned to score since. When the entries come out and Downpatrick appears next to his name, it is worth paying attention.

Where Rexem has struggled is at the very top level. He has run four times in Class 1 or 2 races — the biggest events — and has not won any of them. His trainer has been candid about one disappointing trip to Cheltenham, noting that Rexem got wound up travelling and boiled up before the race, which is a polite way of saying the big occasion got to him. The plan after that was to step back, find a lesser race in Britain, and see whether he could travel more calmly before asking the big questions again. He remains capable at the level he operates most comfortably, and trainer John C McConnell, based in Stamullen, Co Meath, has had 38 winners this season alone — so Rexem is in good hands. His last win came at Clonmel in October 2025, and with a race just yesterday, he is very much still at it.