The Widdow Maker

Across 18 races, the horse has won 3 times and finished in the places a further 9 times, giving it a win rate of roughly 1 in every 6 races — or 17% if you prefer the number. That means it hasn't always won, but it has been competitive far more often than that win tally alone suggests. Nearly two-thirds of its races have ended with a cheque for the yard. The sweet spot seems to be Class 3 races — one step below the top tier — where it has won 3 of 9, a solid one-in-three record that suggests this is exactly the level it belongs at.

The most interesting partnership in its career has been with jockey Brendan Powell, who has ridden the horse seven times and won twice — a win rate of 29%, or roughly 1 in every 3 rides together. That is markedly better than the horse's overall record, which is the kind of stat that makes trainers keep booking the same jockey. The Widdow Maker also seems to bring its best on normal ground — not too wet, not too firm — winning 2 of 8 races in those conditions.

The most recent win came at Exeter on 18 March 2025, a victory that now sits 13 months in the past. Recent form reads 9-2-3-6-1-6 — that middle section, a second, a third, and then a win, shows the horse building into form nicely through that period before fading again in its last outing. The very first career win came at Wincanton back in December 2021, so there is a long history here of showing up and competing without always getting the result.

At 12, every race is something of a bonus. The fact that The Widdow Maker raced just one day ago says everything about its durability — and about Tizzard's confidence that there is still a race to be won somewhere down the road.