Fasol

The most important chapter began in January when Fasol underwent surgery for breathing problems that had been holding him back. The operation did the trick: he got off the mark at Taunton in March 2025, a breakthrough that had been a long time coming. He then went one better at Wincanton in what Nicholls himself described as a last-minute decision to enter — the trainer had almost sent a different horse, and only switched his thinking at the final moment. It was that kind of spontaneous call, including a late change of jockey, that seemed to unlock something in Fasol. He clearly responds well to a certain type of handling, and the women who look after him at home appear to bring out the best in him.

His Musselburgh win on New Year's Day 2026 — his most recent success, now five months ago — came with jockey Olive Nicholls in the saddle, and her post-race verdict was illuminating: he can be moody and unpredictable, a "bit of a monkey" whose performance can depend simply on how he wakes up that morning. But on his best days he travels beautifully and jumps with real confidence. At Class 3 level, one of the more competitive tiers of British racing, he has won 2 from 6 — a win rate of 33%, or roughly 1 in 3 — which suggests the ability is genuine when he decides to show it.

The challenge right now is that he has not won in his last six races, and his regular partner Harry Cobden has flagged that he may want to try racing right-handed and possibly over a longer trip. That advice was not followed at his most recent run at Ascot, and the result apparently vindicated Cobden's reading of the horse. Nicholls is candid enough to admit Fasol has become expensive to follow. But with a yard that has sent out 92 winners this season, and a trainer who clearly has not given up on him, Fasol's next win might just be one good morning away.