Impero

The most eye-catching number in Impero's record is the one attached to long distances: five wins from just 13 races over two miles or more, a win rate of 38%, or better than 1 in every 3 starts. That is a horse that genuinely improves when asked to keep going. Many horses have an engine but lack the will to use it over a long haul; Impero appears to be the opposite. Pair that with a preference for normal ground conditions — three wins from 11 races on a standard surface — and you have a horse whose ideal afternoon is a dry day and a long trip.

The career high point so far came at Kelso on 25 May 2025, when Impero won a Class 2 race — one of the better races you will find in Britain. That matters. Plenty of horses pick up wins at lower levels and fade when the quality improves; Impero answered the question when it was asked. First career win came at Downpatrick the previous October, so the Kelso victory arrived within the space of a single season, which represents real progression for a horse still only six years old.

There is one puzzle worth noting. Impero's most frequent jockey, Jack Cleary, has ridden the horse eight times without a win between them. Cleary has clearly been trusted by trainer Cian Collins to ride the horse repeatedly, but that partnership is yet to click. Meanwhile, Collins has had a productive season — 20 winners from his yard already — so the trainer clearly knows what he is doing.

The other thing to flag is timing: Impero has not raced for roughly seven months, returning from a significant break. Recent form reads two wins in the last six races, which is encouraging, but how a horse comes back after that long off the track is always an open question. If Collins has Impero fit and pointed at another long-distance race on decent ground, the 38% win rate at that trip suggests this is a horse well worth watching.