Accademia

The wins themselves came within two weeks of each other in July 2026 — first at Doncaster on the 3rd, then at Newbury just over a fortnight later on the 17th. Two victories in quick succession is the sort of thing that catches a trainer's eye, suggesting Accademia had found a rhythm and was building momentum. Since then, though, things have flattened. The last six races tell a cautious story: a second place, fifth, first place, first place, fifth, and fourth — in reverse order, that's the most recent outing just a day ago. The horse is mixing solid efforts with disappointments, which is typical of a young animal still learning its trade.

Ed Walker's Upper Lambourn yard has been prolific this season with 76 winners, so Accademia is in a stable with genuine form. The question now is whether the horse can string together another winning run, or whether those two July victories will prove to be a brief flash rather than the start of something sustained. The form is inconsistent enough that it's hard to predict, but the dry-ground wins give punters and followers something concrete to work with. When the ground is quick and firm, Accademia deserves respect.