King of Charm

His last victory came three months ago at Newmarket on 20 June, a track that clearly suits him better than most. In his regular Class 4 company, he has won once in nine attempts, showing he can compete at that level but is far from reliable there. Recent form has been patchy: a win just over a week ago followed by a string of middle-of-the-road finishes before that, including a pair of defeats in his last two outings. He raced again just yesterday, so he remains an active prospect in the yard of trainer Martin Dunne at Newmarket, who has already sent out 20 winners this season.

Interestingly, his regular jockey Darragh Keenan has never managed to steer him to victory in eight attempts together — a statistic that raises the question of whether different tactics or timing might unlock something more. King of Charm is a horse that works best when everything aligns: the right track, the right pace, the right moment. When it does, he is capable of winning. When it doesn't, he is merely a minor placement. He is neither disappointing nor exciting, but a useful middle-ground horse doing honest work in a modest tier of racing.