Pre-patch cavalry work just fine. You need to set them up properly for the charge, but it always works when you do. As long as the unit in question isn't moving away from you, and your cavalry are all lined up before they lower their lances, you should pull it off. You can even change their direction while they're running, and as long as it's not a big turn that breaks their formation, they can still get a charge off from a relatively close distance. I've rarely had a cavalry charge work in cities though.