Sir Henry Cecil

Henry Cecil is one of the greatest British flat racing horse trainers in history. 

A 10-time Champion Trainer, he trained 25 Classic winners including four in The Derby, eight in The Oaks, six in the 1,000 Guineas, three in the 2,000 Guineas and four winners at St. Leger Stakes.

He was especially known for his success at The Oaks and 1,000 Guineas and as the master trainer at Royal Ascot, where he had 75 winners. 

Born in Scotland in 1943, Cecil began his career assisting at his stepfather, British flat racing Champion Trainer, Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort’s stable Freemason Lodge. In 1969 he obtained his training license and won his first English Classic, the 2,000 Guineas in 1975. A year later he took over the running of Warren Place in Newmarket, which quickly became known as the “most glamorous yard in Europe.” 

Noted for his flair in clothing, Cecil’s extraordinary career was marred by huge swings in fortune both and off the track. After a brief dip in success from 2000 to 2006, his career rebound with the training of Frankel. 

Described by Cecil as “the best horse I’ve ever seen,” Frankel was unbeaten in his fourteen-race career and was the highest-rated racehorse in the world from May 2011. His six Length victory in the 2,000 Guineas was called "one of the greatest displays on a British racecourse".

Knighted for services to horse racing in the queen’s 2011 Birthday Honors, Cecil died of stomach cancer age 70 in 2013 after a six-year battle.

Michael Stoute

Sir Michael Stoute is a Barbadian, British thoroughbred horse trainer who has achieved incredible success over his five-decade career. Stoute is widely considered one of the best trainers in horse-racing, winning in all five British classic races - the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, 1.000 Guineas Stakes, Epsom Oaks, Epson Derby and St. Leger Stakes. 

At 19 he moved to the UK to become an apprentice to trainer Pat Rohan, establishing his own stable in 1972. He was the only trainer of the 20th century to win a Classic in five successive seasons and was named Champion trainer 10 times between 1981 and 2009. Stoute's success continued overseas with victories in Ireland, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, the United States and the United Arab Emirates. 

His most famous horse was Shergar who won the 1981 Epsom Cup by a record 10 lengths. The horse was stolen from a yard in County Kildare, Ireland in 1983 with kidnappers settling a ransom of £2 million. At the time Shergar's value was set at £10 million and despite a nationwide search was never found. One theory was the IRA had stolen him. 

In, 2009 Stoute became the first trainer to finish with a clean sweep of places in Ascot's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Conduit, Tartan Bearer and Ask. He had further success at Ascot in 2013 training the Queen's Gold Cup winner, Estimate.

He currently trains at Freemason Lodge Stables and at Beech Hurst Stables, both in Newmarket.

Mick Channon

Former Southampton F.C. and England footballer Michael Roger Channon is now one of racing’s most respected trainers. 

 

While he’s yet to produce a winner of one of the British Classic Races, he won his first Irish Classic in 2012 with Samitar in the 1,000 Guineas. Other career highlights include wins in the Cheveley Park Stakes, the Dewhurst Stakes, the Falmouth Stakes, and the St James’s Palace Stakes. 

 

He has regularly had over 100 wins in a season, with his best to date in 2003 where he saddled 144 winners and took home prize money over £2million. 

 

Born in Orcheston, Wiltshire Channon made his footballing debut age 17 for Southampton in 1966. While he played for Newcastle United, Manchester City and Norwich during his career, he was best known for his time at Southampton who he won the F.A. Cup with in 1976. In 1972 he was called up to the England national team by Alf Ramsey and went on the chalk up 46 caps in his international career. 

 

After retiring from football in 1986, long time race enthusiast Channon began working as an assistant trainer. In 1990 he obtained his trainer licence and purchased West Ilsley Stables, Newbury whose previous owner was Queen Elizabeth II. After starting out with around 10 horses, Channon’s operation has expanded to nearly 200 and his yard welcomes some of the best racing talent in the country. His old footballing pals including Sir Alex Ferguson, Kevin Keegan, Alan Ball and Chris Cattlin all have horses at his stables.

Saeed bin Suroor

Born and raised in Dubai, Saeed bin Suroor is a four-time British Champion trainer and longest-serving trainer at the world-famous Godolphin Stables in Newmarket. 

 

With over 2,000 international victories and more than 180 Group One winners, including three Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes and four King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamon Stakes, bin Suroor is one of the most successful and fearsome trainers of his generation. 

 

His impressive career includes 12 British Classic victories including at the 1,000 Guineas, the 2,000 Guineas, the Epsom Oaks, the Epsom Derby the St, Leger Stakes and won the Ascot Gold Cup five times. He’s just as successful in his native Dubai with a record-breaking eight wins in the Dubai World Cup, most recently with Thunder Snow in March 2018 and has been awarded the Leading Trainers’ title at the Dubai World Cup eight times, including last year.

Internationally he’s saddled winners in Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, Italy and Ireland. 

 

Bin Suroor’s life might have turned out very differently if he had stuck with his first career as a policeman. He decided to stop in 1990 when he met Sheikh Mohammed, who after noting his talents, approached him to train his 30 racehorses running in the UK. He took out his training licence in 1993 and a year later was appointed trainer at Godolphin in Newmarket. Godolphin is one of the most famous and largest flat racing operations in the UK.

He currently splits his year between six-months in the UK and six-months in Dubai.

Dan Skelton

Daniel Skelton is a leading National Hunt Trainer, who has saddled over 465 winners in his career.

With four seasons under his belt, Skelton has had 28 graded/listed winners and scored big wins on the track. This includes his first victory at Cheltenham in 2016 when Superb Story won the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle, ridden by his brother, jockey Harry Skelton. 

 

By his third season he crossed the 100 winners barrier for the first time and earned over £1 million in prize money. He has continued to build on earlier achievements, with some of his most notable performances coming from Three Musketeers, Blue Heron, Al Ferof, Its’afreebee and Ch’tibello.

Since becoming a trainer, Dan and Harry have struck up a close working partnership. Harry was in the saddle when Willow’s Saviour stormed to victory in the 2013 Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot during Dan’s first season as a trainer.

Dan set up his own training stable at the family farm, Lodge Hill in Warwickshire in 2013 with 12 horses. That number rapidly expanded and he ended the 2013/14 season with 27 wins. 

 

He began his career with a few amateur races, before landing work at Champion trainer Paul Nicholls’ yard, Manor Farm Stables. After initially starting as a pupil assistant, he was quickly made assistant trainer a role he stayed in for nine years. Dan credits his early success to Nicholls’ tutelage at the world-renowned racing stable as well as the unique experience of growing up around one of the world’s best show-jumpers.

Jamie Osborne

One of the UK’s greatest national hunt Jockeys, Jamie Anthony Osborne is now hunting glory as a celebrated flat trainer. 

 

Brought up near Wetherby, Yorkshire in a hunting and farming family, Osborne had his first race-ride in a point-to-point while studying for his A-levels. His first win as an amateur came in 1986, after which he became conditional jockey for Nicky Henderson. His career was given a huge boost in 1989, when he was picked as Oliver Sherwood’s stable jockey. 

 

His career peaked in the 1996/97 season when he rode 131 winners and came second in the jockey’s Championship. Osborne’s biggest successes came at the Cheltenham Festival, riding 11 winners between 1991 and 1997. He was the lead rider for the 1992 festival, with five victories including three in one day. His most memorable wins came in the 1992 Champion Chase on Remittance Man and in two World Hurdles on Nomadic Way and Karshi. 

 

He ended his 15-year riding career in 1999 to become a trainer and after obtaining his licence opened his yard at Kingsdown in Upper Lambourn, Berkshire in 2000. 

 

One of Osborne’s most successful horses as a trainer was Milk it Mate who in the 2003 season won the Somerville Tattersall Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes. In January 2018 he attempted to win the $16million Pegasus World Cup in Florida with seven-year-old Toast of New York. 

 

A favourite of the late Queen Mother, Osborne’s career hasn’t been without scandal and was “acquitted” of race fixing in 1998.

Fergal O'Brien

A later bloomer, trainer Irish-born Fergal O’Brien has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting trainers in British horseracing. 

 

O’Brien has become known for consistently producing young talent including the promising Alverado and Bradley and has struck up a sold relationship with jockey Paddy Brennan, who has ridden most of his horses. After a string of good seasons, the 2016/17 period proved to be his best with 60 wins and prize money of £600,000.

Originally from County Tipperary, Ireland O’Neill’s involvement with horses began age 14-year-old when he visited his brother at the Doug Francis Stable in Cheshire in 1987. At 16 Francis sent him to the Racing School, after which he began working under Captain Tim Forster. In 1992 and after a spell at Ginger McCain’s he began working his third Grand National-winning trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies. 

 

This was the start of an 18 year-period as Head Lad to Twiston-Davies’. While working under him he was responsible for preparing Grand National winners Earth Summit (1989), Bindaree (2000) and 2010 Cheltenham Cup winner Imperial Commander. 

 

In 2011 he confirmed he was leaving Twiston-Davies’ stable to launch his own training career. He began at Cilldara Stud in Gloucestershire, where his landlord was well-known jump jockey, Timmy Murphy. Success came quickly and during his three and a half years at Cilldara had over 150 winners.

In 2015 he moved back to familiar territory, renting Twiston-Davies’ top yard at Grange Hill Farm in the Costwolds and sharing facilities with his old trainer.

Tim Vaughan

Former Welsh Champion point-to-point jockey Tim Vaughan is a National Hunt trainer, who in 2012 became the youngest ever to record 100 winners in a season. 

 

Since 2008 he has trained over 700 winners including Grade 1 victors, Saint Are in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle and Spirit of Adjisa in the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. In 2017 he saddled his first ever Cheltenham winner when Master Dancer won in the Brandon Hill Capital Handicap Hurdle. Another career highlight came with Beshabar’s victory in the Scottish Grand National in 2011. 

 

Hailing from the Vale of Glamorgan, Vaughan rode 117 winners and was named Champion Welsh point-to-point jockey during his amateur days. He initially began training as a chartered surveyor, while competing, but despite warnings about the career path, opted to instead become a trainer. 

 

Vaughan obtained his training licence in 2006 and quickly became on the most talented, young trainers in the country. After setting up his stable at Pant Wilkin Stables in Aberthin, Cowbridge in 2008, Vaughan saw his fortunes rise and stable expand. Within eighteen months of starting he had made it into the top 10 trainers list in the country. 

 

Vaughan had 55 winners in the 2008/9 season and went on to break the 100 barrier in the 2011/12. A year earlier he had surpassed another milestone, crossing the £500,000 prize money mark for the first time. He works closely with stable jockey Alan Johns, who rode 45 winners in the 2016/17, all coming from Vaughan.

Mark Johnston

One of Britain’s leading racehorse trainers, Mark Johnston has trai

ned over 4,000 British winners one of only three to achieve the feat.

Scottish born Johnston began his career as a vet, studying at Glasgow and practicing for three years before buying a training yard in Louth, Lincolnshire in 1986. He obtained his trainer’s license a year later, achieving his first win with HInari Video at Carlisle. 

In 1988 he moved to the Kingsley House yard in Middleham from where he built one of the most successful stables in the country. Eventually extending it to two further stables, the training facility now covers 270 acres. 

Jonhston’s first British Classic win came in the 2,000 Guineas with Mister Baileys in 1994. In 2004 he won the British and Irish 1,000 Guineas with Attraction, who he cites as the horse he’s proudest of having trained. His most successful was Shamardal, who was voted the 2004 European Champion Two-Year-Old. During his three seasons, Shamardal won the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, The Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp, The Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly and the St. James's Palace Stakes at Ascot. 

In 2017 Jonhston became only the third trainer to pass the 4,000 British winners milestone. He currently sits behind Richard Hannon Snr and Martin Pipe on the all-time list of British winning trainers, who have 4,193 and 4,183 wins respectively. 

He cites Mister Baileys win at the 2,000 Guineas as his career highlight, claiming the victory enabled his career to move up “another level”.

Paul Nicholls

Former Jockey and National Hunt horse trainer, Paul Nicholls is regarded as the leading trainer of his generation. During his career he’s racked up 2000 wins including the 2012 Grand National with Neptune Collonges, four Cheltenham Gold Cups and was named the British jump racing Champion Trainer ten times between 2005 and 2016. In the 2007 – 08 season he had 155 winners alone.

Born in Gloucestershire, Nicholls left school age 16 to work at the nearby point-to-point yard. He started his career as a stable jockey for David Barrons in 1986. 

As a rider, Nicholls and Barrons experienced huge success including back-to-back wins at the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in 1986 and 1987. During his seven-year career Nicholls had 133 wins including in the Welsh Grand National. He retired in 1989, after being kicked by a horse during pre-season training and breaking his leg. 

Nicholls took out his trainer’s license in 1991, serving a two-year apprenticeship as assistant to Barons, before starting his own training stable at Manor Farm in Ditcheat, Somerset. 

He enjoyed a fruitful partnership with jockey Ruby Walsh. Together achieving five wins in the King George VI Chase with Kauto Star, The Queen Mother Championship Chase with Azertyuiop in 2004 and the 2007 and 2009 Cheltenham Gold Cup again with Kauto Star. 

One of Nicholls’ career highlights came in the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup where he had a 1-2-3 with Denman, Kauto Star and Neptune Collonges. 

In November 2011 he reached 2000 winners, the fastest National Hunt trainer to do so.

John Gosden

Known as the “great communicator” Godsen is one of the most successful trainers of his generation with a reputation for honesty and openness. Boasting both national and international success he’s had nine British Classic wins including at The Derby twice, The Oaks twice, the 1,000 Guineas and four times at the St. Leger Stakes. 

Having trained 3,000 winners worldwide, he’s currently the only trainer to have won three Cartier Awards for Three-year-old Filly, Three-year-old Colt and Horse of the Year in the same year. 

Born near Lewes, East Sussex, Godsen is the son of trainer John ‘Towser’ Godsen. He attended Cambridge University where he studied Economics and worked in land development in Venezuela before turning to horseracing. He began his training career as an assistant to legendary trainers Vincent O’Brien and Sir Noel Murless. After a number of prestigious wins, Godsen moved to California where he worked with trainer Tommy Doyle before obtaining his licence in 1979. 

After a decade of success in the United States he returned to the UK in 1989 to train at Stanley House Stables, Newmarket. There he forged a prosperous partnership with jockey Frankie Dettori, together winning hundreds of races including the St. Leger Stakes in 1996 with Shantou. 

In 1999 he moved to Manton Stables in Wiltshire where he quickly enjoyed success including at the 1,000 Guineas Stakes with Lahan. After huge success at the stable including wins at the Prestige Stakes with Nannina and the Royal Lodges Stakes at Ascot, he confirmed a return to Clarehaven Stables.

Luca Cumani

Italian Luca Cumani is one of Britain’s leading racehorse trainers, who has experienced success in the UK and around the world. Training some of the highest-profile racehorses of his generation he’s achieved major wins, including at seven British Classic races, the Breeders’ Cup Mile and the Arlington Million. 

The son of champion amateur jockey Elena and champion trainer Sergio Cumani, Luca always knew racing was his destiny and was inspired from an early age to follow in his parents’ footsteps. Drawn to Newmarket he arrived in the U.K. in his early twenties and landed a role as assistant to legendary ten-time champion trainer, Sir Henry Cecil. 

He soon established his own training stables at Bedford Hourse in 1976, where continues to work to this day. From there he’s trained hundreds of winners including Epsom Derby victors Kahyasi (1988) and High-Rise (1998) and the 1994 St. Leger Stakes winner Commanche Run. 

Cumani has claimed victory at all Britain’s major racing festivals including winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes once, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes twice and the St James’s Palace Stakes twice. 

His achievements have continued abroad with major wins at the Irish 1,000 Guineas twice, the 2,000 Guineas and the Irish Derby and in Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Cup and Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

After working under racing great Henry Cecil, Cumani has gone on to cultivate his own reputation as a mentor to trainers and jockeys including Frankie Dettori, Jason Weaver and Nicky Mackay.

Aidan O'Brien

Record-breaking Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien already has 28 British and 37 Irish Classics wins and 55 victories at Ascot.

The son of farmer and small-scale horse trainer, Denis O’Brien, Adrien started his career at P.J Finn’s racing stables in County Kildare, before working with Jim Bolger at Coolcullen, County Carlow.

In 1996 he moved to Ballydoyle Stables in County Tipperary where he built his reputation as a legendary horseman Since becoming the private trainer for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud he’s turned out some of the most prestigious horses in racing including Camelot, Peeping Fawn and leading sires Galileo and Giant’s Causeway. 

The same year he became Ireland’s youngest Champion Trainer at 26 a title he’s won a further 19 times and in 2010 became the youngest ever Champion British trainer. O’Brien was the first trainer in history to win the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas in both the UK and Ireland in the same year. 

His incredible wins include the 1,000 Guineas four times, the 2,000 Guineas eight times, The Epsom Derby six times, the Epsom Oaks six times and St. Leger Stakes five times. In Ireland he’s won the Irish 1,000 Guineas, the Irish 2,000 Guineas 11 times, the Champion Stakes seven times, the Irish Derby 12 times, the Irish Oaks five times and The National Stakes 11 times. 

His love of horseracing runs in the family. In 2012 Aidan and son Joseph became the first ever father/son partnership to win the Derby with Camelot.

Ed Dunlop

Edward A.L. Dunlop is a British thoroughbred racehorse trainer, whose wins include the Ascot Gold Cup, the Epsom Oaks twice and the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot. 

The son of British champion trainer John Dunlop, Ed grew up at his father’s yard, the Castle Stables in Arundel. After completing his education at Eton, he worked on stud farms in Ireland and Kentucky and received extra education in Sydney, Australia. 

Dunlop returned to the UK where his first job was an assistant to four-time British jump racing Champion Trainer, Nicky Henderson. He then moved to work with Alex Scott at Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum’s Oak Stables in Newmarket. After Scott’s death in 1994, 25-year-old Dunlop took over the yard when it was renamed, Gainsborough Stables. Dunlop’s first success came shortly after when Lynton Lad won at Yarmouth. 

Despite the daunting task of taking over from Scott, Dunlop flourished achieving 1,000 domestic winners as well as finding success further afield in Ireland, the U.S, Japan, Italy, Hong Kong, France and Canada.

His most famous trained horse is Oujia Board, who as a three-year-old was as a dual Oaks winner. He went onto win seven Group and Grade 1 races, including a Hong Kong Vase, a Prince of Wales’ Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

Dunlop has had his fair share of bad luck too. In November 2015 he suffered the loss of British-bred Thoroughbred Racehorse Red Cadeaux, who was a triple runner up in the Melbourne Cup. He was put down following complications after surgery.

Richard Fahey

Nigerian born Richard Fahey is one of the UK’s leading trainers, who has racked up over 2,000 winners.

He equalled the record for most flat winners trained in a calendar year in 2015 with 235 wins, and by the end of the 2017 season had 200 victories to his name and earned prize money of over £4.2m.

Fahey turned to training after a successful ten-year stint as a jockey, where he chalked up over 100 wins and shared the conditional jockeys’ title in the 1988-89 season.

After a period running a livery, in 1993 he turned his hand to training and set up his stable at Manor Farm, Butterwick near Malton with 10 horses. 

His first taste of success came with National Hunt performer Noyan, who won the Irish Heineken Gold Cup in 1997. That was followed by the first of five Royal Ascot winner with Superior Premium in 2002. By the 2003 season he had saddled over 50 winners for the first time. 

Fahey’s move to Musley Bank Stables in Malton in 2005 would prove to be a turning point in his career. A year later he broke the £1million prize money barrier and trained over 100 winners. Last year it turned out over 200 winners including Ribchester who took victory in the Locking Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes, Prix Jacques Le Marois and Prix du Moulin. 

He is well known for his 12-year partnership with double champion jockey Paul Hanagan, who has credited his success to Fahey’s abilities.

Richard Hannon

Richard Hannon is a British Champion flat race trainer and the son of four-time Champion trainer, Richard Hannon Sr.

After assisting his father for 12 years, Hannon Jr officially took over the licence of their Herridge Racing Stables, in Wiltshire on the 1^st January 2014. 

 

The trainer only had to wait two days for his first solo victory, with Unscripted winning at Wolverhampton on 3^rd of January. It was the first win of a blistering season for Hannon, who won the 2,000 Guineas with Night of Thunder, the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot with Tornado and was named Champion Trainer. 

 

He kept the momentum going into the next season where he scooped victories in the Coronation Cup and in the Lockinge with Night of Thunder; maintaining Group 1 success in every season since.

Born into one of Britain’s most prestigious racing families, Hannon Jr learnt his trade at top stables in Australia before returning to the UK to become his father’s assistant. Hannon Snr had also worked under her father, Harry Hannon, before taking over in 1970. 

 

Hannon Jr stayed in the role of assistant for 12 years, during which time the father and son team experienced incredible success and Hannon Sr won three trainers’ championships.

While working for his father, he was credited with bringing new owners to the stable including Sir Robert Ogden, Sir Alex Ferguson and Sheikh Fahad Al Thani.

The stable is currently training 240 horses including Tornado, Toormore, Olympic Glory and Night of Thunder.

Nicky Henderson

Nicholas John Henderson is a four-time British jump racing Champion trainer, who has enjoyed five decades of success in horse racing.

The renowned trainer is the son of Johnny Henderson, one of the founders of the Racecourse Holdings Trust. Eton-educated Nicky began his career as an amateur jockey before becoming assistant trainer to National Hunt racing racehorse jockey and trainer, Fred Winter in 1984.

Four years later he set up his own training stables at Seven Barrows in Lambourn, Berkshire. His career highlights include winning The Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1992 with Remittance Man and three-time Champion Hurdle winner, See You Then who won from 1985-1987. Henderson was named Champion trainer twice and has won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, first with Long Run in 2011 and then Bobs Worth in 2013. The trainer has become synonymous with Cheltenham with only one other active trainer, Willie Mullins, won more races at the legendary track. 

 

One of his best known horses was the hugely popular Caracciola. The mainly National Hunt horse was a 50/1 outsider when he pulled off a shock win the Cesarewitch Handicap flat race at Newmarket in 2008. He followed that success with a win in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2009. 

 

It hasn’t all been glory for Henderson though, in 2009 he was fined a record £40,000 and banned from running horses for three months after a prohibited anti-bleeding drug was found in the blood of Moonlit Path, a mare he trains for the Queen.

Jonjo O'Neill

Jonjo O’Neill is a double Jockey’s Champion and National Hunt racehorse trainer. 

 

One of the most successful trainers in the UK and Ireland, he’s still the only person to ride and train a winner on the flat and over fences at Ascot and to have reached 100 wins in a season as a jockey and a trainer. 

 

Born in County Cork, after leaving school he worked as an apprentice to Michael Connolly. Winning over 900 races in his 16-year career, his first came in 1970 with a dead heat on Lana at the Curragh.

Twice named British Champion Jockey, in 1977/78 he broke the record for most winners in a season with 149. He followed that with a with a win in the first of two Cheltenham Gold Cup wins, first on Alverton in 1979. The second came in 1986 on the mare Dawn Run, who was the only horse to have also win the Champion Hurdle. 

 

Later that year, after coming back from serious injuries and battling cancer, O’Neill took out his trainers licence and began working at Skelton Wood End, near Penrith. After 15 years he moved to the JP McManus-owned Jackdaws Castle, Cheltenham. where he struck up a partnership with legendary jockey A.P McCoy, who stormed to victory on Don’t Push in the 2010 Grand National.

 

Some of his biggest wins as a trainer include Synchronised in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2012, Wichita Lineman in the William Hill Trophy at Cheltenham in 2009 and 2014 Irish Grand National winner, Shutthefrontdoor.