Tom Ward

This season tells a mixed story. Ward has sent out 14 winners from 196 runners — that's roughly 1 in every 14, or around 7% — which represents a dip from the 10% he managed last year. In a sport where margins are everything, that kind of slide is worth watching. But here's the thing: in the last two weeks alone, he has hit 1 winner from 5 runners, a 20% clip that is nearly three times his seasonal average. Whether that signals a return to form or just a fortunate fortnight, it has people paying attention.

Ward has found a reliable ally in jockey Sean Levey, their most productive partnership producing 4 wins from 55 rides together — matching that same 7% rate. It is a working relationship built on volume and trust rather than fireworks, and in training that consistency matters. Less encouraging is his record with Brave Leader, a horse he has run four times without a single win to show for it. Sometimes the chemistry just isn't there.

One place Ward clearly does have the formula right is Southwell, where he has won 3 races from just 13 runners. That is nearly 1 in every 4 — and in racing, finding a track where your horses consistently perform above expectation is one of the most underrated skills a trainer can have. It suggests Ward knows exactly which horses suit the particular demands of that venue, and he uses it well.

Eighty-two winners and two top-level victories in four years is a solid foundation. The slight dip in win rate this season keeps things honest, but with recent form pointing upward, Ward looks like a trainer building towards something rather than one resting on early promise.