Ammes

His story over hurdles began at Sedgefield, where jockey Sean Bowen said afterwards that Ammes "always felt the winner" but would need to sharpen up his jumping to reach the top level. He was right to temper expectations — it was only a first run over obstacles — but the raw material was clearly there. Then came Chepstow on 11 October 2025, and Ammes delivered something more convincing: a win carrying a penalty, meaning he was essentially giving the field a head start as punishment for winning before. Owen admitted he wasn't sure how strong the opposition was, but the manner of the victory impressed him enough to start mapping out a bigger future. "A nice type with plenty of scope" is trainer-speak for a horse that could still be improving, and from Owen — whose yard has sent out 201 winners already this season, a remarkable volume of success — those words carry real weight.

The partnership with Sean Bowen has been particularly fruitful. In 5 races together they have won 2, a 40% win rate that is exceptional by any measure. Bowen knows this horse, and the horse seems to perform for him. Over longer trips of two miles or more, Ammes has won 2 of 6 races — roughly 1 in 3 — which suggests stamina is a genuine weapon.

The one honest caveat is that Ammes has not yet cracked the top level. In 4 races at Class 2 — some of the best races in Britain — he has drawn a blank. But Owen's ambitions are clear: a run at Wetherby next, then potentially a tilt at Cheltenham in March. For a horse still learning to jump, that trajectory is ambitious. Whether he has enough to compete there remains to be seen, but he is active, improving, and in the hands of one of the busiest yards in the country. He is certainly one to watch.