Way Maker

Both victories came last summer. The first was at Bangor-on-Dee in July 2025, and it was emphatic — trainer Mickey Bowen describes it as bolting up, which is the racing equivalent of winning by a distance while barely breaking sweat. A month later at Stratford-on-Avon, Way Maker was asked to carry extra weight as a penalty for winning, which is the sport's way of trying to level the playing field against horses that have already shown they can win. He did it anyway. Bowen is candid that the horse wasn't fully right that day, which makes the win all the more telling — it takes a genuinely useful horse to win at less than 100%, carrying a penalty.

After that promising double, Bowen took his time before targeting one of the sport's big occasions: a £100,000 race at Newbury, one of the top prizes of its kind. Way Maker ran there and disappointed — his form figure of 11 reflects a tough day at the office. But context matters here. Newbury at that level is the deep end of the pool, and not every horse swims first time. Bowen remains bullish, describing Way Maker as having an exciting future, and you can see why — a horse that wins when it isn't right, carries penalties, and takes on the best is worth sticking with.

Most recently, Way Maker finished third just one day ago, which means he is very much in action and ticking over in form. Bowen's yard has sent out 52 winners this season alone, so this is a team that knows how to get a horse to the line in front. If Way Maker can find again the sharpness that made him bolt up at Bangor, the next chapter could be a good one.