Sheila Lewis

Ludlow is where Lewis has made her clearest mark. She has sent out 4 winners from 21 runners there — a win rate of just under 1 in 5, which is genuinely impressive for a yard still finding its feet at the top level. Some trainers spend entire careers searching for a track that suits their horses, and Lewis appears to have found one early. Whether it is the layout, the travel distance, or simply a happy coincidence of good form timing, Ludlow has become a happy hunting ground worth watching.

The most intriguing number in Lewis's record is her performance on fast, dry ground: 1 win from just 5 races, which works out at 20% — wins 1 in every 5 races in those conditions. The sample size is small, so it would be unwise to read too much into it, but it is a thread worth following as the season develops. If she starts running horses deliberately on firmer ground, that figure will be telling.

Her most frequent jockey is Sean Houlihan, who has partnered her horses 32 times for 1 win together — a combination that has yet to fully click. That is a relatively lean return, and it raises an interesting question about whether this partnership will develop further or whether Lewis will look to diversify her jockey bookings. Trainers and jockeys often need time to build trust and find a rhythm, so it may simply be a matter of patience.

Lewis is still in the early phase of a training career, and 29 winners across four years tells you this is a small, developing operation rather than an established powerhouse. But the upward curve in her win rate and the solid record at Ludlow suggest a trainer who is learning quickly and building something worth watching.