Trainer Q&A
What is your favourite Scottish racecourse and why?
Kelso racecourse – My local track and only takes 20 mins to get there.
What would be your ultimate racing ambition?
Keep training winners and to be brave enough to have £1000 ew on a 33-1 shot.
Is there a race you would really like to win?
Grand National.
What interests do you have outside horses and racing?
Farming and enjoy watching rugby and football.
Which is your favourite racehorse you have trained and why?
Murder Moss – gave me the bug and got me started.
Who is your racing hero?
Ap McCoy – mentally strong.
When did you first start training racehorses and what made you decide to be a trainer?
Trained/rode my first point to pointer in 1992. I won the Heart of All England Hunter Chase in 1999, finished 2nd at Perth and 3rd at Cartmel in hunter chases wining approx. 5.5k and thought this was an easy way to make money (oh so wrong).
What is the best part of being a trainer?
Winners, seeing young horses progress and seeing the joy owners get from winning.
What is the best advice you have been given?
Believe in yourself and your own ability.
What is your first racing memory?
Backing a horse called Foxy Muir trained by Kenneth Oliver at 33-1 when I was in school and it won. I had £1 ew on.
Your biggest achievement in racing?
Winning the Foxhunters at Aintree with Tartan Snow in 2013 and wining the Tommy Whittle with Captain Redbeard in 2017.
Why do you love racing?
Always liked horses and it’s so different from farming.