Born into a family steeped in the traditions of horses and horseracing, Alastair Ralph began his racing career when he left school working initially for Michael Scudamore. After this, he moved to Ditcheat to work for the legendary National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls, before moving on to ride out for the 2014 Grand National winning trainer Dr Richard Newland. Following his time spent with Dr Richard Newland, Alastair then moved to the Downton Estate in Shropshire where he served as Assistant Trainer to Henry Daly for 5 seasons. In addition, Alastair also ran his own yard of point-to-pointers which grew from strength to strength each season, in 2015, Alastair obtained his trainer’s licence.

Alex Hales is a Grade 1-winning racehorse trainer based at Trafford Bridge Stables, Edgcote, near Banbury. His yard operates as a dual-purpose operation, with runners under both codes and a strong National Hunt presence. Alex’s X profile describes him as a dual-purpose racehorse trainer near Banbury in Oxfordshire, based on the Edgcote Estate with superb facilities and a beautiful setting. 

Alex has been training in his own name since the early 2000s, having previously worked as an assistant to Charlie Mann and Kim Bailey before setting up as a public trainer. A 2003 report noted that he had decided to set up as a public trainer after operating on a private basis at Woodhall, having already trained 13 winners in that spell. 

Today, Alex Hales Racing is based at Trafford Bridge Stables, a modern training base on the Edgcote Estate. The yard is positioned around high-quality facilities, a strong team ethos and an approachable ownership experience, giving owners the chance to be involved with horses trained in a professional but welcoming environment.

Bryan Smart is a multiple Group 1-winning Flat trainer based at historic Hambleton House near Thirsk in North Yorkshire. His route into racing began far from the traditional racing establishment: the son and grandson of coal miners, Bryan left school at 15 to work for Jenny Pitman before establishing himself as a successful professional jump jockey. He rode more than 200 winners and also worked closely with legendary trainer Fred Winter, whom Bryan credits as one of the major influences on his career.

After injury brought his riding career to an early end, Bryan moved into training and took out a full licence in 1986. He spent 12 successful years training in Lambourn before relocating north in 2002 with his wife Vicky and daughter Beth to take over Hambleton House. Since then, the family has developed the historic yard into a modern Flat training operation while retaining its distinctive character and racing heritage.

Today Bryan works alongside Vicky, an equine sports therapist and veterinary physiotherapist, and Beth, who holds a First Class Honours degree in Equine Science and became assistant trainer in 2021, making the operation very much a family-run yard.

Craig Lidster is a Flat trainer based in Malton whose career in racing began at just 11 years old, riding out horses, ponies and point-to-pointers before leaving school at 16 to attend the National Horseracing College in Doncaster. His early career took him through a series of respected racing operations, including time working for Sir Robert Ogden and Malcolm Jefferson.

He later spent ten years with Brian Ellison, where he worked as travelling head lad and briefly rode as a jockey, before moving to Richard Fahey’s yard. During eight years with Fahey, Craig worked closely with a number of high-class horses, most notably travelling Wootton Bassett to France when he won the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère in 2010.

Craig subsequently specialised further in breaking-in, pre-training and working with difficult or problem horses, experience which helped shape his own training approach. He began training in his own right in 2021 and, after initially operating from Easingwold, returned to Malton in 2025 to establish his operation at Beverley House Stables. 

Dan Horsford is a dual-purpose racehorse trainer based at Sharpridge near Marlborough, where he spent much of his career learning his trade before taking out his own licence in 2025. Dan joined Alan King’s team at Sharpridge in 2010 and progressed through the yard to become assistant trainer in 2013, ultimately spending around 15 years with the operation and 12 years in the assistant trainer role.

That long association gives Dan an unusually deep knowledge of both the horses and the training environment at Sharpridge. When the opportunity arose to establish his own operation there with the support of RHM Horses, he was able to begin from a yard and set of gallops he already knew intimately.

Dan now trains a mixed string of Flat and National Hunt horses alongside a young team, supported by his wife Jade and RHM Horses. The aim is to combine the experience developed during his years with one of Britain’s leading dual-purpose trainers with a progressive, owner-focused operation of his own.

Fergal O’Brien is a Grade 1-winning National Hunt trainer based at Ravenswell Farm, Withington, near Cheltenham. Originally from Limerick, he built a long racing career before training in his own name, including many years with Nigel Twiston-Davies, where he became head lad and assistant trainer. Since moving to Ravenswell Farm in 2019, Fergal O’Brien Racing has developed into one of the leading National Hunt yards in Britain, with a strong reputation for winners, owner experience and a positive, people-focused stable culture.  

Mark Hoad is a second-generation racehorse trainer based at Windmill Lodge Stables in Lewes, continuing a family association with racing that stretches back decades. A former jump jockey himself, Mark rode his first winner at just 16 aboard Bash Street Kid at Lingfield in October 1982 before later moving into the training ranks.

In August 2000, Mark took over the trainer’s licence and the family’s Windmill Lodge operation from his father Roger Hoad. Since then he has maintained a small, hands-on mixed string from one of the few remaining racing yards around the historic Lewes training grounds, sending out runners both on the Flat and over jumps.

Racing has long been part of the fabric of Windmill Lodge. Before the Hoad family’s tenure, the yard was home to Gordon Smyth when Charlottown was trained there to win the 1966 Derby, giving the stable a notable place in British racing history.

Having been an established and accomplished trainer since 2022, Michael launched Michael Keady Racing, now proudly based at Revida Place, a superbly equipped yard on Hamilton Road in Newmarket – the home of British horse racing.

Michael’s training philosophy is built on three core pillars: Healthy Horses, a Motivated Team, and Happy Clients. His approach is detail-focused and highly involved, with a strong emphasis on excellent horse care, staff wellbeing, with clear, consistent and honest communication with owners.

Michael has already saddled 43 winners, and he is committed to building a top-class racing operation that can compete on the international stage. At the heart of his vision is a winning environment where horses thrive, and owners feel truly part of the journey.

Nigel Hawke is a Grand National-winning former jockey and racehorse trainer with more than 40 years’ experience in racing. Based at the family-run Thorne Farm near Tiverton in Devon, he has developed a training operation known particularly for National Hunt horses, young talent and an ability to identify horses with scope to progress.

Nigel’s riding career included one of the sport’s greatest prizes when he partnered Seagram to victory in the 1991 Grand National at Aintree. His career in the saddle was later brought to an end following a serious fall at Newton Abbot in 1993, after which his focus moved increasingly towards producing and training racehorses.

Today Nigel and his team operate from Thorne Farm, a 250-acre family farm set in its own valley in Mid-Devon. The yard combines Nigel’s experience in the saddle, a longstanding interest in sourcing young horses and a deliberately personal approach to training and ownership.

From a young age, Oli knew he wanted to train racehorses.

That dream never wavered - and now, aged 31 years, after a decade of elite global experience, he's opening his own yard at the iconic Bedford House Stables, Newmarket.

His Skill Set and Experience are World Class, having worked with the following trainers over the past 10 years;

Andrew Balding – Pupil Assistant for 1 year

Hughie Morrison – Assistant Trainer for 3 years

Chris Waller – running the Melbourne (Australia) Yard for 1 year 

Hugo Palmer – Assistant Trainer for 1 year 

Roger Varian – Assistant Trainer for 4 years

From Low Grade Handicappers to Champions and Classic Winners like Charyn; King of Steel; Nature Strip; Verry Elleegant; Eldar Eldarov; Elmalka, Oli knows how to get the best out of every horse.

Alongside his father, renowned tipster Henry Rix, Oli is sourcing horses with data-driven insights. This unique approach will allow him to place horses in races that no other trainer has access to - creating an invaluable competitive advantage

Home to Gwent Dual Racehorse Trainer Rob Stephens, a Third-Generation Horseman continuing the Legacy of his Father David and Grandfather Owen. 

With a background as a Jockey and experience under top Trainers Sir Mark Prescott, William Haggas, and Phillip Hobbs. Rob, alongside his wife Rosie whom was Head Girl for Phillip Hobbs have been Training Horses at Castle Farm for the past 12 years.



Nestled within the Valleys of Penhow, just 9 miles West of Chepstow, Castle Farm Boasts Picturesque Training Facilities including an Uphill Carpet Gallop Carpet Rounds, Jumps Schooling Field, and One-Mile Grass Gallop, all designed to get the very best from each individual horse

Ross Burdon is a Newmarket-based Flat trainer who took out his own licence in 2025 after building experience with some of the most respected names in racing. His career has included time with Sir Henry Cecil at Warren Place during the Frankel years, senior roles with Roger Varian, Ismail Mohammed and Andrew Balding, and a spell as assistant trainer to Kevin Philippart de Foy. Ross also spent time in Australia riding Group 1 horses for champion trainer Chris Waller.

After initially setting out to become a jockey and having a handful of rides both on the Flat and over jumps, Ross moved into training and gradually worked his way through the industry before establishing RB Racing in Newmarket. His operation has grown quickly, moving into the larger Sackville House Stables in early 2026 as the string expanded.

Tom Lacey trains from Cottage Field Stables in rural Herefordshire, a purpose-built National Hunt yard set in the countryside at Sapness Farm, Woolhope.

His background is rooted in practical horsemanship. Tom served his apprenticeship breaking and schooling young horses under Captain Charles Radclyffe, worked in leading National Hunt yards, rode 27 winners in point-to-points, and later gained further experience as Head Lad for a leading Flat trainer. That mix of schooling, jumping, race-riding and Flat-racing discipline has shaped the way Cottage Field Stables operates today.

Tom has built the yard into a respected National Hunt operation, combining patient education, careful race planning and a strong eye for placing horses. His approach is hands-on and individual, with every horse given the time, confidence and preparation needed to progress properly.

Cottage Field Stables is known as “The School for Winners”, reflecting the yard’s emphasis on correct education, schooling and long-term development. Recent horses associated with the yard, including Glory And Fortune, Sebastopol, Blow Your Wad and Cruz Control, have helped showcase Tom’s ability to compete on major racing stages while maintaining the feel of a thoughtful, owner-focused training operation.

For owners, the yard offers a professional but personal racing experience: a serious National Hunt setup, strong facilities, clear communication and the chance to follow horses trained with patience, purpose and attention to detail.

Tom Ward has trained from Whitehouse Stables in Upper Lambourn since receiving his licence in 2019. Before going out on his own, he spent four years assisting Richard Hannon and one year assisting John O’Shea and Godolphin in Australia. Earlier in his career he also worked under Alain de Royer-Dupré and Francis-Henri Graffard in France, Mark Johnston and John Ferguson in Britain, and Kiaran McLaughlin in the USA.

Tom and Alex Ward now run a growing Flat yard with over 40 horses in training. Notable horses in recent seasons have included Woodhay Wonder and Our Golden One, while previous stable stars include Luisa Casati and Roman Mist.