Pep Talking

The recent form tells an even more compelling story. Look at the last six runs and you see: win, second, win, second, unplaced, win. That's a horse bouncing in and out of the winners' enclosure with remarkable consistency, and with a race just yesterday, it is very much in the thick of things right now. The last victory came at Chepstow eight weeks ago, and this is a horse that clearly hasn't gone off the boil.

Where Pep Talking really shines is at Class 5 level — that's the bread-and-butter tier of British racing, a competitive but accessible grade where most horses spend the bulk of their careers. The numbers there are remarkable: 5 wins from 11 races, a 45% win rate. Nearly winning every other time you line up is the kind of record that makes trainers and racegoers take notice. It suggests a horse that has found its level and absolutely thrives there.

The partnership with jockey Gavin Sheehan is worth paying attention to. In eight races together, Sheehan has ridden Pep Talking to 4 wins — that's a 50% win rate, meaning one of them wins every time they team up, on average. That's not a coincidence; that's a jockey and horse who clearly click. Meanwhile, trainer Billy Aprahamian's yard in Towcester has sent out 12 winners this season, so this is a stable in good form, not just making up the numbers. The first career win came at Huntingdon in March 2024, but the story since then has been one of steady, satisfying improvement — a horse that has learned its trade and now delivers on it regularly. Pep Talking might not be a superstar of the sport, but it's exactly the kind of reliable, front-running presence that makes following racing so rewarding.