Way Of Life

The place that brings out the best in him is Lingfield Park, where he has won 3 times from just 7 visits — that's nearly 1 in every 2 races at that track, compared to a career average of 1 in every 5. For context, most horses never find a track they truly love. Way Of Life has found his, and he proved it again just this week, winning there on 27 April 2026. Trainer Jonathan Portman's yard in Upper Lambourn has sent out 46 winners this season, so this is a busy, confident operation — and Way Of Life is clearly one of their in-form horses.

What makes the story richer is how long it took him to get here. Portman has spoken candidly about the horse being raw, ignorant, and gormless as a youngster — a horse that seemed to have ability buried somewhere but wasn't in any hurry to show it. That slow burn makes the current form feel earned rather than accidental. He also thrives on normal ground conditions, winning 7 of his 23 races on a standard surface — a 30% win rate that comfortably outstrips his overall figures, and a useful thing to know when the ground is neither too wet nor too dry.

His regular jockey Rob Hornby has been on board for 13 of those career races but has only won once together, which is a curious gap given the horse's recent improvement. Whether that partnership clicks into gear or someone else gets the credit for his next win remains to be seen. What isn't in doubt is that Way Of Life, at eight years old and with a win on the board just days ago, is running the best racing of his life — and Lingfield Park, wherever the next chapter takes him, will always feel like home.