Isaac Des Obeaux

His career numbers tell a story of steady, if modest, progress. Four wins from 19 races puts him at around 1 in every 5, which is a solid return at his level, and two of those wins have come in his last six outings. That recent purple patch matters because it follows a season Nicholls openly described as frustrating — a campaign where the horse simply wasn't right for much of it and produced nothing. Horses that bounce back from a blank season with back-to-back wins are worth paying attention to.

Nicholls has spoken about how the horse needs a proper test of stamina, and the evidence backs that up. His win at Uttoxeter in March 2026 — his most recent race, just five weeks ago — came with Sam Twiston-Davies in the saddle rather than regular partner Harry Cobden, and Nicholls was quick to credit the ride. Cobden, who has been on board for 13 of the horse's 19 races, knows him well enough to have flagged that longer trip as the sweet spot — and he was right. The fact that it took time for the horse to fully mature is a common theme with staying chasers; they often need more seasons than their flat-racing counterparts to work out what they are.

His record at Chepstow stands out too. Two wins from six races there puts him at 1 in 3 at the track, comfortably better than his overall average, and his first career win came there back in November 2022. Some horses just suit a particular track — the layout, the undulations, the way the ground rides — and Chepstow appears to bring out the best in this one.

The team at Ditcheat, which has sent out 92 winners already this season, clearly believes there is more to come. Flo Willis, who rides him every morning in training, reportedly told Nicholls he was a transformed horse heading into this campaign. Given what has happened since, it is hard to argue with her.