What advice would you give to a trainer starting out on their own?
most reliable stallion at the moment?
Have a very good team behind you, it’s impossible to do it all by yourself. It is a very tough game and when things don’t always go to plan you need a good support network behind you.
Oscar has been very lucky for us. We would fill the yard up with them if we could. They may not always be the most beautiful but they are tough and genuine and will always try for you.
What is your favourite racecourse? If you could spend the day with any other trainer, who would it be?
Newbury, as it is big galloping track that seems to suit our horses.
Aidan O’Brien, he is a true professional. I especially admire how he and his team deal with the press.
What is your proudest training achievement?
What piece of training equipment could you not live without?
Unofficially winning the champion hurdle with Rock On Ruby…
The horse walker is a vital piece of equipment for warming up and down. I do not know how trainers coped without them in the past.
Does technology feature in your training regime?
What is the main quality in a horse you look for when buying?
What do you do to go that extra mile with regards to your horses’ wellbeing?
Size and scope. We like to buy big scopey horses. It does require patience from the owners but a lot of our horses progress from the point-to-point field, we believe this to be an ideal nursery school for these future chasers.
I treat each one as and individual, it is vital to know the likes and dislikes of each and every one. What suits one horse doesn’t necessarily suit another. Ciara, my fiancée and assistant trainer, is always on the yard and feeds every day so she is always on top of any issue that may arise. It is also very important to keep bugs and viruses out of the yard, as soon as one shows any sign of illness they are isolated immediately. n
Looking at genetic traits and temperament, who is your
Apart from the BBC weather, no!
ISSUE 47 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com 49