Dan Skelton trains him out of Alcester in Warwickshire, and the yard is currently one of the most productive in the country, having sent out 194 winners already this season. That is a serious operation, and horses in that environment tend to be well-placed. Skelton noted after a promising third-place finish last autumn that the horse had shown more over fences than he ever had over hurdles — a genuine step forward after a campaign he described as stop-start. The suggestion was that there was more to come, and this week that looked prescient.
Pony Soprano won at Uttoxeter on 2 May 2026 — just days ago — his second career win and his best result since breaking his duck at Exeter back in October 2024. That gap between wins is worth noting: it took roughly 18 months and several near-misses to reach the winner's enclosure again, which makes the Uttoxeter success feel earned rather than lucky. Recent form of 1-3-3-5-3-8 shows a horse coming back to his best after a dip, with three consecutive top-three finishes before the win.
One curious subplot is the partnership with jockey Tristan Durrell, who has ridden him in 5 of his 10 races without a win together. That is not unusual — plenty of horses win with one jockey and place with another — but it does mean whoever was aboard at Uttoxeter will have Skelton's attention going forward. He has also yet to win at Class 3 level, going 0 from 4 in those slightly more competitive races, with both wins coming a rung below. Whether he can step up and beat stronger fields is the next question worth watching.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exeter Undulating |
3 | 1 win, 2 other | 17 Nov | 33.3% |
| Sandown Park Galloping |
2 | 2 thirds | 6 Dec | 0% |
| Uttoxeter Sharp |
1 | 1 win | 2 May | 100% |
| Worcester Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 22 Oct | 0% |
| Haydock Park Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 20 Dec | 0% |
| Newcastle Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 27 Jan | 0% |
| Ffos Las Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 16 Apr | 0% |