Winter Crown

There are, however, a few bright spots in its record. Winter Crown shows real affinity for Newcastle, winning 2 of its 6 races at that track—a 33% win rate that makes it a genuine course specialist. Both of those wins have come on normal ground conditions, which appears to be its preferred surface: it has won 2 of 10 races when the ground is standard, compared to no wins on firmer or softer terrain. Trained by Liam Bailey at Middleham in North Yorkshire, Winter Crown typically competes at Class 4 level, where it has won 2 of 12 races—a 17% win rate that at least exceeds its overall average.

The partnership with jockey Ryan Sexton has been less fruitful, producing just 1 win from 13 races together, well below the horse's typical standard. Winter Crown's last victory came at Newcastle on 1 November 2025, now nearly a year in the past—a gap long enough to raise questions about whether the horse still has the appetite or ability to return to the winner's enclosure.