Percy Shelley

The interesting detail is the timing of his wins. He broke through on debut over hurdles at Uttoxeter in mid-September 2025, then backed that up quickly with a walkover at Ludlow in early October. Since then, nothing — twelve months without another success. His recent form reads 15-2-4-2-6-6, meaning he has picked up places (four times in his last six races), but the wins have dried up. Trainer James Owen, who runs a prolific yard out of Newmarket with 205 winners this season, clearly rates him enough to keep him racing. Owen has noted that Percy Shelley was rated 85 on the Flat before switching to hurdles, and the trainer sees enough to run him in a two-mile-four-furlong race at Cheltenham — one of racing's most prestigious venues — on Friday. That speaks to genuine belief, even if the results have been sparse lately.

Daniel Tudhope is his regular jockey, though that partnership has yet to produce a winner from five attempts together. For a horse that has found success only at longer distances and in lower-grade races, Cheltenham represents a significant step up in both distance ambitions and company. Percy Shelley remains active and competitive, but he is unmistakably a horse of modest ability fighting for his space in a crowded sport.