Prince Imperial

His best level has been Class 4, one rung below the top tier of everyday racing, and it suits him well — he has won 4 of his 15 races at that level, a win rate of 27%, or just over 1 in every 4. That is a solid return, and it tells you he belongs comfortably in that company rather than scraping along at the bottom. His career began to take shape with his first win at Ayr back in September 2021, and the highlight of his recent form came at Warwick in April 2025, when trainer Olly Murphy noted he had got his confidence back and suggested a step up in trip could unlock even more. Murphy was enthusiastic: "He stays very well — he'll improve again for a step up in trip and might win a nice staying race during the summer."

The most striking partnership in his career has been with jockey Beau Morgan, who has ridden him to 3 wins from just 5 races together — a win rate of 60%, or 3 in every 5. That is a remarkable number. For context, most jockey-and-horse combinations that work well might win 1 in 5. Three from five suggests something close to a genuine understanding.

His recent form, however, has gone quiet. He has not won in his last six races, with his last two outings producing a third place and then a fifteenth, and he raced just yesterday. A different trainer, Richard Hughes, gave an insight into how the team thinks about him: keep him ticking over through the winter on the all-weather surface, where he is known to perform, and target the smaller fields that appear in those longer-distance races after Christmas. It is a sensible, patient strategy for a horse at this stage of his career — not chasing glory, but finding the right spots. At nine, Prince Imperial is not done yet.