Charlatan

The partnership with jockey Callum Shepherd is the most striking number in Charlatan's file. In 13 races together, they have won 5 — that is winning more than 1 in every 3 rides, a ratio that would make most jockey-horse combinations in the sport deeply envious. When Shepherd is booked, the yard clearly means business.

Wolverhampton has become this horse's happy hunting ground. Two wins from 8 races there — 1 in every 4 — might not sound dramatic, but course specialists are genuinely valuable in British racing. Some horses simply suit a particular track's shape, surface, or rhythm, and Charlatan has consistently delivered at Wolverhampton more than anywhere else. The most recent of those wins came on 27 December 2025, and the opening career win was at Kempton Park in January 2024, so Charlatan has shown it can perform on the all-weather indoor tracks that dominate winter racing.

Trained by David Simcock out of Newmarket — one of British racing's great headquarters towns — Charlatan competes at Class 6, which is the entry level of the sport. That context matters: this is not a horse chasing glory at the top table, but within its own world it has carved out a solid and consistent record. Simcock's yard has sent out 39 winners this season alone, which shows a stable in sharp form and well worth following.

Charlatan raced just one day ago, which means it is fit, active, and right in the middle of a campaign. The recent run of form — a win, then a seventh, a second, and three more mid-field finishes — suggests a horse that is competitive without being entirely predictable. But get Shepherd back in the saddle at Wolverhampton and the picture sharpens considerably.