KARL BURKE
Based in the spectacular Yorkshire countryside a stone’s throw from the Yorkshire Dales, Karl Burke has been training horses since 1991. Karl’s biggest win to date came in 2018 when Laurens powered to victory in the Prix de Diane.
Karl was also delighted when Libertarian became the first Yorkshire trained winner of the Dante for over 70 years in 2013. Karl already has an impressive record and he has grand plans to build on his successes, scoring more group 1 wins.
He also has ambitions to enter a runner in Australia.
Horses: Nathaniel Filly
MEET KARL
DONALD McCAIN
There are few trainers with bigger shoes to fill than Donald McCain. The son of enigmatic trainer, Ginger, who achieved global plaudits with wonder horse, Red Rum, Donald took an interest in horses from an early age. Having watched his father achieve incredible feats on the racecourse, including Red Rum’s unprecedented triple Grand National success, Donald impressed as a jockey before turning his hand to training.
Having gained experience from training maestros, including Sir Michael Stoute and Luca Cumani, Donald took over his father’s license in 2006, relocating to Cholmondeley. Shortly after taking over the yard, Donald celebrated his first win, and he has never looked back. He is regarded as the finest National Hunt trainer in the North, but also has an impressive record on the flat. McCain’s most notable wins include Ballabriggs bolting up to scoop the 2011 Grand National and Peddlers Cross claiming first place in the Grade 1 Neptune Investment Novices’ Hurdle.
Horses: Arctic Cosmos Gelding
MEET DONALD
PHIL KIRBY
Widely regarded as one of the hardest working trainers in the land, Phil is up with the birds every morning. He rides, as well as training the horses, and he has also been known to put his experience as a qualified farrier to use. Phil is a passionate racegoer and trainer, and he celebrates every victory as if it were a Grand National success. Phil likes to muck in, and he can often be found behind the wheel of the horsebox on race day.
Launching his career in 1997 without a point-to-point victory to his name, Phil celebrated a decade in the business by finishing the 2007 season as the leading Hunter Chase trainer. As well as devoting his time to horses, Phil is also very fond of his canine companions. His only greyhound, Feugo, another four-legged recipient of the Phil Kirby training treatment, made it the quarter finals of the prestigious Waterloo Cup. Phil is based in Richmond, North Yorkshire.
Horses: Galaxy Dancer
MEET PHIL
ANDREW BALDING
Andrew Balding took the reins from his father, Ian, becoming a licensed trainer at Kingsclere in 2003. His training career got off to a flying start with victory in the 2003 Epsom Oaks with Casual Look.
Over the years, Andrew has earned a reputation as one of the best trainers in the business and he has enjoyed several high-profile successes, including a string of group 1 wins at home and abroad. In 2018, he recorded a staggering 125 wins and the yard secured over £2 million in prize money in the 2017/2018 season.
Andrew is incredibly consistent, and he has appeared in the top 15 of the British Flat Trainers’ Championship every year since 2012. Andrew hails from a family that is steeped in racing history and he lives and breathes racing. He grew up at Kingsclere with sister, Clare, a stalwart of sports reporting.
Horses: New Bay Filly
MEET Andrew
JONJO O’NEILL
Jonjo O’Neill launched his training career on the back of a hugely successful period in the saddle. Having notched up over 900 winners, Jonjo starting training in 1986. After overcoming cancer, Jonjo relocated to Jackdaws Castle having spent 15 years in Penrith. One of racing’s standout National Hunt trainers, Jonjo is the only person to register 100 winners in a season as both a jockey and a trainer.
The yard is prolific, regularly amassing more than £1 million per season in prize money and Jonjo has a string of eye-catching successes under his belt, most notably a Cheltenham Festival treble in 2013/2014. A firm favourite among jockeys and trainers, Jonjo is renowned for working with the best horsemen and women in the world, but also for nurturing promising youngsters, including his son, Jonjo Jr.
Horses: All The Glory
MEET JONJO
GEORGE BOUGHEY
George Boughey hails from a farming family in Dorset, and from an early age, it was clear that his future would revolve around spending time with animals. During his education, he was more taken by form books than text books, and he started life in racing working in the blood stock business.
After studying Agriculture and Business Management at Newcastle University, George travelled to Australia, where he was fortunate to work for racing giants, Gai Waterhouse and Lloyd Williams in Sydney and Melbourne respectively. After returning to the UK, George spent six years working as assistant trainer to Hugo Palmer in Newmarket.
Having managed the yard’s sprawling satellite site, Yellowstone Park Stables, George was granted a license to train in Newmarket in 2019. He currently has a highly impressive strike rate 25% which shows the talent which this young trainer has.
Horses: Bated Breath Colt
MEET George
IAN WILLIAMS
Ian Williams is currently the only trainer to have enjoyed that indescribable winning feeling at every single racecourse in the UK. A mantle to be proud of, Williams has saddled over 1,000 winners, celebrating in the winner’s enclosure at Royal Ascot and Cheltenham and popping the Champagne in France, Australia and Dubai.
Ian was brought up in a family that was passionate about racing, and he learned his trade from some of the finest trainers in the business, including Jenny Pitman, Martin Pipe and Francois Doumen. Ian is based near Birmingham, where his horses enjoy fabulous facilities in a stunning setting.
He is a dual-purpose trainer with an illustrious list of winners, including a recent champion in a £90,000 handicap at Newmarket.
Horses: Walk in the Storm
MEET Ian
OLLY MURPHY
Olly Murphy started his racing life in the saddle, riding 30 winners before embarking upon a career in training under the watchful eye of Alan King.
After moving to Ireland, Olly joined Gordon Elliott as assistant trainer, amassing several grade 1 winners and a string of Cheltenham successes, which were topped off by Don Cossack romping to victory in the 2016 Gold Cup.
In 2017, Olly flew solo for the first time and quickly established an excellent reputation. In the last three years, he has won over £2 million in prize money saddling 216 winners. The future certainly looks bright for this talented young trainer!
Horses: Urban Grit
MEET olly