Darvel

The most striking thing about Darvel is what happens when he turns up at Chepstow. Two wins from just three races there makes him about as close to a course specialist as you'll find at this level — that's a 67% win rate at a single track, which is extraordinary. His very first career win came there back in May 2022, and the track has clearly suited him ever since. Whether it's the configuration of the course, the ground conditions, or simple familiarity, Chepstow seems to bring out the best in him.

His most recent win came at Salisbury in August 2025, and it arrived with some fanfare. Jockey Billy Loughnane said afterwards on Sky Sports Racing that trainer Patrick Chamings had told him before the race that Darvel had considerably more ability than his official rating suggested — and once Loughnane hit the front and started to stretch away, he knew the horse simply wasn't going to stop. That kind of confidence from a trainer, backed up by the horse delivering on the day, tells you something important: Chamings knows this horse well, and when the yard decides to go for one, they mean it.

That said, Darvel hasn't won in his last six races, with recent finishes reading 7th, 9th, 5th, 10th, 13th, and 2nd — a mixed bag that suggests he's finding things harder at the moment. He raced just yesterday, so he is very much active and in the thick of things. Chamings' yard has sent out nine winners already this season, so the operation is in decent form. Regular partner Hector Crouch has won 2 of their 10 races together — roughly 1 in 5 — a solid partnership at this level. Whether Darvel can add to his tally before the season is out, a trip back to Chepstow would seem the obvious place to start looking.