Calvino

Both of Calvino's victories have been at Taunton, which is essentially his home track given that Paul Nicholls trains just down the road in Ditcheat, Somerset. Winning 2 from 3 at the same course is not a coincidence — some horses simply take to certain tracks, and Calvino clearly has a feel for the place. His first win there came in April 2025, and he went back and did it again in January 2026. That kind of course form is exactly what shrewd racegoers look for.

Nicholls himself is one of the most successful trainers in British jump racing, and this season his yard has sent out 92 winners — a remarkable volume that speaks to the sheer scale and quality of the operation in Somerset. When a horse from that yard shows a preference for a local track, it tends to get the opportunities to express it. The trainer noted after Calvino's first win that the horse was still finding his feet that day, which suggests there was more to come — and so it proved.

In the saddle, Harry Cobden has been the regular partner, and the pair have struck up a decent understanding. Together they have won 2 of their 6 races, which is 1 in every 3 — a strong ratio that suggests Cobden knows how to get the best out of him. Calvino raced just yesterday, so he is clearly in good health and being kept busy, which is typically the sign of a horse and yard in form.

He competes mainly at Class 4 level — solid, competitive mid-tier racing rather than the very top or bottom of the game. Winning 1 from 4 at that level is decent rather than spectacular, but his Taunton record gives him a reliable calling card. If he turns up at that track again, he is the kind of horse worth paying attention to.