Carmers

The turning point came in May 2025 when he won his first race at Ballinrobe, then struck again just ten days later at Navan. His trainer, P Twomey, was struck by how casually he went about it — surprising himself with the margin of victory at Ballinrobe despite expecting him to be competitive. The real statement came on 18 June at Ascot, when Carmers won a top-level race. Twomey knew from the start that staying power would be his weapon; watching the race unfold, he saw W J Lee ride a patient race, allowing Carmers to find his rhythm before building pressure when it mattered. This is a horse who prefers not to be in front too long, who needs a breather at the right moment, and who saves his effort for when it counts.

Since that Ascot success, Carmers has been quieter — no wins in his last six races, though he has placed twice. His most recent victory came at Down Royal three months ago. Yet the underlying picture remains compelling. On normal ground conditions he has won 3 of 4 races, a win rate of 75 percent. With W J Lee in the saddle, he has won 3 of 5 races, a 60 percent return. These are the conditions and partnerships that make him tick. His trainer, who runs a Tipperary yard that has sent out 35 winners this season, has clearly found what works, and Twomey's post-race comments at Ascot hint at bigger ambitions — talk of entries at Doncaster in major races. For a horse who simply does what he has to do, Carmers has already done quite a lot.