2026

Horse Trainer: Andrew Balding

admin January 29, 2026

One of the most established thoroughbred horse trainers in the United Kingdom.

Andrew Matthews Balding comes from a very privileged background. Born in 1972, he attended a boys’ preparatory school and Radley College. He comes from a horse racing background, with his grandfathers, uncles, and father being elite horse trainers, as well as having connections with royalty.

In many respects they are a horse racing dynasty.

His father, Ian, paved the way when purchasing Park House Stables, Kingsclere, Hampshire, at the age of 26.

Andrew still trains at this location. However, he didn’t just work for his father, but for a number of respected trainers in both Flat and National Hunt racing. These included Nigel Twiston-Davies and his uncle, Toby Balding, while one of his longer opportunities came with Lynda and Jack Ramsden, based in Yorkshire. In addition, he worked overseas in California and Australia. Leading up to working at Kingsclere, he was assistant to his father from 1999. He gained his trainer’s licence in January 2003, succeeding his father. It would be a year to remember, as he won the Epsom Oaks with Casual Look. In 2020, he would achieve his second Classic, with Kameko winning the QIPCO 2000 Guineas.

In 2023, Chaldean made it three Classics when landing the 2000 Guineas.

To add to his accolades, he was runner-up in the British Trainers’ Championship in 2021.

The stable has gone from strength to strength, with almost 200 winners in one season and prize money exceeding £8.5 million. His international racing successes have seen him win Group 1 races in France, Germany, the USA, Dubai, Hong Kong, Canada, Turkey, and Australia.

Kingsclere is one of the best-equipped and most beautiful private stables in the country. The yard has over 200 boxes, split into nine separate yards, and a mix of turf and all-weather gallops. Additionally, they have an equine swimming pool, three sets of starting stalls, high-speed treadmills, a digital weighbridge, three horse boxes, and a variety of grazing paddocks.

Andrew Balding has trained over 2,000 winners, with around 100 Pattern-class victories.

He is married with three children.

His sister, Clare, is one of the most recognisable broadcasters in the UK. In fact, she won a BAFTA and has been honoured with a CBE for services to broadcasting and diversity.

An exceptional trainer.

Horse Trainer: Archie Watson

admin January 28, 2026

Archie Watson is an elite thoroughbred horse trainer who is well established in the United Kingdom. I particularly remember him making a huge impact within his formative seasons with a number of gifted two-year-old horses.

Let’s take a look at his story.

It’s probably no surprise Watson was destined to be a horse trainer. Born in 1989, he lived in Lambourne, Berkshire, England. This is one of the major horse racing centres in England, known as the Valley of the Racehorse. In fact, there are other stables in this location including Andrew Balding, Charles Hills, Clive Cox, Jamie Osborne to name a few.

From a very young age he would ride out for Charlie Morlock at Kingston Lisle.

His life was immersed within the culture of thoroughbred horse racing and it ignited a passion.

After finishing school at 18, he embarked on building his skills working both near and far. This included Shadwell Stud, Norfolk, and Blandford Bloodstock in the United Kingdom. Also, at Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand.

In fact, he was something of a globetrotter with international work including two seasons with Alec Laird, running a satellite yard, in South Africa. In addition, he headed to California spending six months shadowing trainer Simon Callaghan.

In this time he broadened his horsemanship skills and training philosophies.

His break came in 2012 when he was appointed assistant trainer to William Haggas at Somerville Lodge, Newmarket, England. He would stay there for almost four years working with both elite horses a prominent owners.

In 2016, he received a trainers licence. He was aged just 27.

However, he would go back home to start this exciting period of his career, purchasing Saxon Gate Stables at Upper Lambourne.

Saxon Gate is close to 500 acres of turf gallops maintained by Jockey Club Estates. In addition, there are a number of artificial gallops. The stables are a beautiful mix of old and new facilities with excellent paddocks, horse walkers and lunging ring.

From small acorns grow mighty oaks. From that first cold, winter morning training just 3 horses he has come a long way. It wouldn’t take him long to find his feet and it was no surprise he did this with sparkling two-year-old displays.

In 2018, Soldier’s Call won the Windsor Castle Listed race over 5-furlongs at Royal Ascot. This son of Showcasing would go on to race at the highest level competing at Group 1 class and after retirement would be a stallion at stud.

Some two years later, Watson would achieve his first Group 1 success with Glen Shiel taking the 2020 British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot.

He has since positioned himself as one of the elite trainers in the United Kingdom with multiple Pattern race victories to his name.

Horse Trainer: Simon Crisford

admin January 27, 2026

One of the more noted British thoroughbred horse trainers.

Simon and his son Ed are located at Newmarket, Gainsborough Stables, Hamilton Road. They have been at this location since 2019. The stable has 100 boxes and training grounds at Newmarket Heath, which consist of 50 miles of turf gallops and 14 miles of all-weather gallops, covering an area of 2,500 acres. Facilities include an equine swimming pool, spa, treadmill, and sea walker. They also have an indoor schooling area and outdoor trotting rings. The stable offers a comprehensive training environment.

Previously, Simon Crisford, who had no direct ties within racing, was racing manager for Godolphin. In fact, he was originally a racing journalist who, through dogged determination, became one of the most respected trainers. A great communicator, these initial interactions with horse trainers, owners, and jockeys paved his way to success. He was fortunate enough to assist great trainers in those formative years, including John Dunlop and Sir Mark Prescott.

In the early 1990s, his career moved forward when he was appointed racing manager to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Godolphin operation is one of the most powerful in the world, and his experience was pivotal in their success in the United Kingdom and worldwide.

For many horse racing fans, the first time they heard or saw news of Crisford was when he was interviewed on At The Races and Racing UK (as it was known before becoming Racing TV). This was around 1994.

This role as racing manager for Godolphin would continue for 20 years.

However, he always held a dream of being a licensed thoroughbred horse trainer in his own right, and in 2014 he fulfilled this ambition. Even so, he still retained an advisory role with Godolphin.

In 2015, he embarked on a very successful training career at Carlburg Stables. This first season saw impressive statistics, with 22 winners from 85 runners (an enviable strike rate for an established trainer, let alone a newcomer).

Mid-2019, the team moved to Kremlin House, Newmarket.

In 2018, the stable’s success continued with around 70 winners and total prize money exceeding £1 million.

Interestingly, Simon and Ed became the first father-and-son trainers in Britain to hold a joint licence, which came into fruition following a new BHA ruling. Ed, who graduated from the Irish National Stud Course, had previous experience working in California for Eoin Harty and John Gosden before teaming up with his father.

The stable has done particularly well training two-year-olds to a very high standard, including Century Dream, A’Ali, and Flotus.

Their success was exemplified in 2023, with two-year-old Vandeek winning at Group One level when travelling to France to win the Prix Morny. This son of Havana Grey would go on to win the Middle Park Stakes (Group One) at Newmarket — their first British Group 1 success. Vandeek would later retire to stud, standing at Cheveley Park Stud.

The stable continues to go from strength to strength, with dozens of Listed and Pattern winners.

Horse Trainer: Nigel Tinkler

admin January 8, 2026

Nigel Tinkler is a long-standing thoroughbred horse trainer based at Woodland Stables, Langton, Malton, North Yorkshire, England.

Tinkler holds a dual-purpose trainer’s licence, which allows him to race horses on both Flat and National Hunt racecourses.

Nigel Delfosse Tinkler was born on 28 February 1958 in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

The Tinkler family has a rich heritage in horse racing. His father, Colin Tinkler Senior, was a jockey and later an established horse trainer. Nigel was very much part of the family business and began riding for the stable as a teenager. By the age of 15, he had ridden his first National Hunt winner, and by 16 he had ridden winners on the Flat, over hurdles, and over fences.

Today, Woodland Stables comprises 70 stables, a five-bay horse walker for warming up and cooling down before and after exercise, and a two-furlong round canter. The Langton Wold gallops range from six furlongs to one mile, on both grass and all-weather surfaces. In addition, the yard includes 15 acres of paddocks.

Nigel Tinkler turned professional as a jockey in 1975 and rode for 14 years, often riding his own horses. During his riding career, he partnered over 200 winners.

In 1982, he embarked on his training career, initially combining training with riding many of the stable’s horses. However, by 1989, he retired from professional race-riding to concentrate fully on training.

One of his first major training successes came in 1987, when The Ellier won the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, ridden by Gee Armytage. Tinkler has long been regarded as a pioneer in supporting female jockeys at a time when opportunities were limited.

The Ellier’s victory was particularly inspiring, as Gee Armytage became the first woman to ride a winner at the Cheltenham Festival. This marked a pivotal moment for female riders in the sport.

Other major winners trained by Nigel Tinkler include:

• 1992: Rodeo Star — Tote Gold Trophy and Chester Cup

• 1993: Sacre D’Or — Cheltenham Festival Mildmay of Flete Chase

• 1990s: Sugarfoot — multiple Group 3 races and valuable Flat handicaps

• 2020: Ubettabelieveit — Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes

Ubettabelieveit later went on to become a successful stallion at stud.

Woodland Stables remains very much a family business, with Kim Tinkler, his wife and a former talented jockey, helping to run the stable. Their daughter, Amy Tinkler, works as the travelling head girl.

The stable has enjoyed considerable success, and in 2021 achieved its highest-ever number of Flat winners, with 41 victories, many recorded at giant odds.

Horse Trainer: Jamie Osbourne

admin January 7, 2026

A leading British thoroughbred horse trainer located at The Old Malthouse Stables, Upper Lambourn, Hungerford, Berkshire, England.

James Anthony Osborne was born in 1967, his father, Tony, was a director of Market Rasen Racecourse.

Osborne grew up in Yorkshire and enjoyed riding his pony and rode for a couple of seasons as an amateur jockey before moving to Nicky Henderson’s yard in 1987 where he took up his professional licence.

After a couple of years, he was stable jockey for Oliver Sherwood.

Osborne had a very successful partnership with Sherwood, including leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival in 1992 with 5 winners, with a treble on the same day. His most successful season was in 1996-97 when he finished runner-up in the British jump racing Champion Jockey title with 131 winners.

He retired in 1999 through injury.

He quoted: “I haven’t been enjoying the riding as much as I used to. There were lots of lows, I kept falling off, banging my head. I had just had enough of it. I’ve no regrets, but I will not miss going to Ludlow on a Thursday”.

He rode almost 1000 winners around the world.

Osborne was granted a dual-purpose trainer’s licence which he embarked in 1999.

‘The Osborne ethos is to blend old-fashioned horsemanship & experience with a modern, innovative training regime using up-to-date technology to assist in achieving our goals.’

This includes varied gallops managed by the Jockey Club Estates, including The Mandown and Kingsdown gallops, high-speed treadmill, cold salt-water therapy spa set in a small, picturesque village with individual stabling for two-year-olds and older horses.

The key for equine health being airflow and hygiene.

As Osborne says: ‘Racehorse owners can only truly enjoy the experience once they are clear and confident in the knowledge that their trainer is managing their investment as if it was their own.’

Predominantly a Flat horse trainer, he would see success early in his career when Milk It Mick won the Dewhurst Stakes Group One at Newmarket in October 2003. He did well with another two-year-old Drawnfromthepast who won the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2007.

Many horse racing fans will have fond memories of stable star Toast Of New York who won almost £2M from 13 international starts, including winning the UAE Derby in 2014. The same year, he was beaten a nose in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on the dirt track at Santa Anita Park.

Osborne is married to Katie, an artist, and they have one daughter, Saffie, who is a professional flat racing jockey.

Horse Trainer: Roger Varian

admin January 6, 2026

One of the major licensed British thoroughbred horse trainers.

Born in 1979.

In his early teens, although from a non-racing family, Varian enjoyed pony riding and spent time riding out for trainers at weekends. His enthusiasm for the sport was encouraged by his parents.

After finishing school, in the mid-’90s, he made the bold decision to go to the US to embark on a career as a work rider at Hollywood Park, located in Inglewood, California, Los Angeles County. As far as records show, he didn’t have any professional rides or wins at this time. However, in the late ’90s, he returned to the UK, where he rode for National Hunt trainer Josh Gifford. He rode seven winners for The Downs Stables, located at Findon, West Sussex.

Feeling his riding career “needed a push forward”, he returned to the United States in 2001, heading to Maryland, based with trainer Jack Fisher, who is best known for American steeplechase racing. Notable horses for the stable include Good Night Shirt, one of the few horses to earn over $1m in prize money.

However, his time in Maryland was short-lived, as within two months Varian had sustained a serious wrist injury in a fall, ending his career as a jockey.

Later that year, Varian headed back to the UK, taking a post at Kremlin House Stables in Newmarket as assistant trainer to Michael Jarvis.

He remained in this role for 10 years, the stable handling exceptional talents such as Rakti, a winner of six Group One races in Italy and the United Kingdom, and Eswarah, winner of the 2005 Epsom Oaks Classic race.

Michael Jarvis’ career spanned over 40 years. He achieved numerous Group One successes across Europe, including the 1000 Guineas (Ameerat, 2001) and the Epsom Oaks (Eswarah, 2005).

Due to Jarvis’ failing health, Varian took over the running of Kremlin House Stables in February 2011. Sadly, his mentor would pass away on 20 September that year, aged 71.

Varian described himself as “very grateful… very privileged and… very lucky”.

He had notable successes in the following years with the exceptional Kingston Hill, who was runner-up in the 2014 Epsom Derby before winning Varian his first Classic in the St Leger (2014).

Also in 2014, Belardo was rated the best two-year-old colt trained in Europe after his win in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

In January 2017, Varian left Kremlin House Stables, purchasing Carlburg Stables from Clive Brittain, who had retired from training in September 2015.

Noted winners at Carlburg Stables (Varian) include:

• 1000 Guineas – Elmalka (2024)
• Irish St Leger – Eldar Eldarov (2023)

Varian is married with three children.