Cher Monsieur

The first win arrived at Newcastle in January 2026, and it came with a dose of good fortune that Mulholland is happy to acknowledge. Jockey Conor O'Farrell, who has ridden him in 9 of his 11 races, got the last fence wrong and had to scramble, handing the horse behind a half-length advantage — and then a loose horse drifted across and effectively towed Cher Monsieur past his rival. Messy, opportunistic, and very much a win. O'Farrell told Sky Sports Racing afterwards that the horse was still learning his job but was "very tough and genuine," which is the kind of thing you want to hear about a horse whose résumé is built on small margins. The pair have won 1 from 9 races together — a rate of roughly 1 in 9 — but the form suggests they are figuring each other out.

Since that Newcastle breakthrough, things have moved quickly. His recent record of 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 4th, 5th — read from most recent backwards — shows a horse that has found a level and is operating at it consistently. The second win came at Plumpton just this week, which is as fresh as form gets. Mulholland has been clear that fast, dry ground is the key — he went to Newcastle in January specifically because the surface was suitable, and a run at Ffos Las on worse ground three starts ago told a different story. Keep him on a sound surface and the trainer believes he is still improving. Given how close he has been for so long, that is a thought worth taking seriously.