That Cheltenham win stands out as the headline moment so far. Cheltenham is the sport's most demanding stage, a track that rewards nerve, timing, and judgement in equal measure, and landing a Class 1 race there tells you Gleeson can perform when the occasion is biggest. Many riders spend entire careers without a winner at the festival track. Having one at this stage of his career is a serious credential.
The partnership with trainer Emmet Mullins tells an interesting story. Two wins from 21 rides together — winning 1 in roughly every 10 — might not look spectacular on paper, but the volume of rides from one yard shows a trainer who trusts him enough to keep putting him up. In this game, getting the opportunities in the first place is half the battle.
Where Gleeson really catches the eye is in the conditions that others find miserable. On very wet, muddy ground — the kind of racing day that soaks you to the bone just watching — he wins 3 from 10, or 30% of the time. That is 1 in every 3 races, which is a remarkable return and suggests either a sharp instinct for riding in those conditions or a talent for getting the best out of horses that handle the mud well. Either way, when the forecast is bad, it is worth paying attention to where his name appears in the racecard.
His record at Wexford is similarly worth noting — 3 winners from just 7 rides there, which works out at well over 40%. Some jockeys simply suit certain tracks, perhaps because of the shape of the bends or the way the ground typically rides, and Wexford looks to be one of those places for Gleeson. Still only four years in, with a Cheltenham winner already banked and his numbers improving season on season, the best is almost certainly still to come.
| Course | Races | Wins | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punchestown | 14 | 4 | 28.6% |
| Clonmel | 8 | 0 | 0% |
| Wexford | 7 | 3 | 42.9% |
| Listowel | 7 | 3 | 42.9% |
| Leopardstown | 5 | 2 | 40% |
| Cork | 5 | 1 | 20% |
| Thurles | 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Limerick | 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Galway | 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Naas | 4 | 3 | 75% |
| Tipperary | 4 | 2 | 50% |
| Killarney | 4 | 1 | 25% |
| Bellewstown | 4 | 1 | 25% |
| Sligo | 4 | 1 | 25% |
| Ballinrobe | 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Tramore | 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Fairyhouse | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Cheltenham | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Navan | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Gowran Park | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Roscommon | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Kilbeggan | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Laytown | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Dundalk | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Down Royal | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Perth | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Aintree | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| The Curragh | 1 | 0 | 0% |