Captain Hugo

The trajectory here is hard to ignore. His last six races read 1-2-1-–-–-1, which in plain terms means three wins, a second place, and two unplaced runs across that stretch. The two blank results sit in the middle, which means his most recent form has been sharp. He last raced 29 days ago and won, so he heads into whatever comes next off the back of a victory rather than chasing one.

That most recent win came at Kelso on 28 February 2026, and it was no small thing — Kelso was a Class 2 race, meaning one of the better contests you will find in Britain. Captain Hugo has spent most of his career competing one rung below that level, at Class 3, where he has won two from three (67%). Stepping up and winning a Class 2 suggests the horse is not just comfortable at his usual level — he can handle a stiffer test when asked.

Sean Houlihan has been in the saddle for most of these adventures, riding Captain Hugo in seven of his eight races and winning four of them. That is a win rate of 57% together, which is frankly extraordinary — professional jockeys are considered excellent if they win one race in every six. The partnership clearly works, and when Houlihan is booked, history says to take notice.

Behind it all is the Somerset yard of Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, based at Bilbrook. With 37 winners already sent out this season, this is a team in good form and clearly knows what they have in Captain Hugo. He began his career with a first win at Worcester in May 2025 and has kept on improving since. With a Class 2 already on his record, a career earnings total that reflects genuine quality, and a horse who wins half the time he races, there is every reason to think the best chapters of this story are still ahead.