Captain Pickles

The horse really comes alive at Wolverhampton. Two wins from 6 races there works out at 1 in every 3, which is a genuinely impressive record at a single track. That is not a coincidence — it is a pattern. The most recent of those wins came just six weeks ago, on 30 March 2026, and the first career win was at the same venue back in January. When Captain Pickles turns up at Wolverhampton, you take notice. The yard is based up in Garstang in Lancashire, trained by the partnership of Tony Culhane and Stella Barclay, who have sent out 6 winners already this season — a small operation punching with purpose.

The jockey partnership with Stevie Donohoe is the other thing worth flagging. Together they have won 3 of their 6 races — that is 1 in every 2, which is a remarkable hit rate between a horse and rider at any level. Donohoe clearly knows how to get the best out of this horse, and the combination looks formidable when it comes together. The horse also shows a strong preference for normal ground conditions, winning all 4 of its races on a standard surface — 4 wins from 14 races in those conditions works out at roughly 1 in every 3.5, and none of its wins have come on wet or muddy ground. It also finds its best form over a mile and a furlong to a mile and two furlongs, winning 2 of just 5 races at those distances — 40%, or 2 in every 5. Most of its racing has come at the lower end of the competitive ladder, but within that context, Captain Pickles is in the form of its life and raced just yesterday. Whatever comes next, this is a horse worth watching.