Trainers at Imperial Racing

Nigel Twiston-Davies took out a full time training licence in 1989, having spent several years as a permit holder. Recording his first win in December 1989 he has since gone on to saddle more than 1200 winners. He is the only current trainer to have won the Grand National more than once, saddling Earth Summit to victory in 1998 and Bindaree four years later. His 13 successes at the Cheltenham Festival include three victories on the final day of the 2010 festival, with our very own Imperial Commander winning the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, Baby Run capturing the Christie's Foxhunter Chase under 17 year old son Sam and Pigeon Island taking the Johnny Henderson Grand

The 14^th April 2007 saw Gordon Elliott become the youngest ever trainer (at the age of 29) to win the Aintree Grand National.  It proved a defining moment in Gordon's career, as since that day the winners have been coming in thick and fast. Gordon is young, talented, determined and hungry for success. He honed his skills working for Tony Martin, Gordon Richards and Martin Pipe during a successful riding career. The Elliot yard  has now expanded to over a hundred horses in training, with an exciting team of young horses to look forward to. Whilst always keen to chase the highest honours he is equally delighted by his many

We are delighted to add Harry Fry to our list of trainers for the 2018 season. Harry has developed a reputation as one of the best young trainers around since he gained his trainer's licence in October 2012. That decision came after he had trained Rock On Ruby to win the champion hurdle whilst working as assistant trainer to Paul Nicholls. He has increased his total of winners and prize money each year since. Last year he succeeded in breaking through the £1 million prize money barrier for the first time, with an impressive score of 69 wins (including two in Ireland) which saw him finish 13th in the trainer’s table. He has enjoyed considerable success at the highest level

We are delighted to add a long-time friend of Imperial Racing Colin McBratney to our list of trainers. Colin McBratney comes from a farming background, and graduated to training when taking over the reins of his brother David point to point operation. In the 15 years since Colin took out his trainers licence, he has achieved considerable success, including a spectacular Galway Plate success with Ballyholland in 2009 the first Northern Ireland winner in 35 years. Ballyholland went on to run in the 2011 Aintree Grand National, while Carsonstown Boy struck credible second and fourth places in the Foxhunters at Cheltenham in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Marito was placed second in the 2016 run

Willie Mullins started training in 1988 having been assistant trainer to both Jim Bolger and his father Patrick. A six time champion amateur rider in Ireland his greatest moments as a rider came when winning the Aintree Foxhunters on Atha Claith, and the Cheltenham Champion Bumper on Wither Or Which. His record as a trainer is unequalled having landed all the top prizes in Ireland and the UK as well as achieving notable successes in France. Over the last 10 seasons he has been the leading national hunt trainer, with the 2017/18 season yielding an incredible 212 winners from 797 runners. The Champion Trainer in Ireland for the last 14 seasons he shows no signs of stopping, with the 2020/21

John Quinn started his racing life when he joined Edward O’Grady’s yard as a conditional jockey. After enjoying several years there he arrived in Malton at the Jimmy Fitzgerald’s yard before going freelance. He rode the best part of 200 winners before he retired in 1990. Initially starting a livery yard he branched off into training after failing to sell some of the horses he has prepared. John currently trains around 65 horses from two facilities in Bellwood Cottage and Highfield Yard’s. John is equally adept at traing for the flat or jumps as demonstrated by top level wins under both codes. His current list of winner include Blythe Knight, Countrywide Flame, The

Brian Ellison is an accomplished trainer under both codes. His record includes winning group races on the flat and grade 1 jump contests. In 2019 he  recorded his 1,200th winner under rules. Brian trains from top class facilities at Spring  Cottage Stables. His training facilities include American barns, open air stables, water walkers, hot water showers, weighing facilities and a salt therapy room. Brian’s love of horses is always evident, and whilst fiercely competitive the welfare of his horses is always the first priority. We are delighted to add Brian to our list of trainers and look forward to seeing our first runners from the yard this season. 

Fergal O’Brien embarked on a new career as a trainer, having spent the 19 years as head lad at the hugely successful Nigel Twiston-Davies yard. For the last 4 seasons Fergal has been the Champion Point-to-Point Trainer in the West Midlands area and, at the Cheltenham Hunter Chase Evening Meeting, where he achieved his first double at jump racing's premier racecourse. Fergal’s landlord at the new stables at Cilldara Stud is the well-known jump jockey, Timmy Murphy. The facilities at Cilldara are first-class and there is huge potential for further development as the business continues to grow. We have a long stand

Kim Bailey has trained over 1100 winners, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Mister Oats, the Champion Hurdle with Alderbrook and the Grand National with Mr Frisk. He has a wealth of experience having been employed by Captain Tim    Forster and Fred Rimmell before taking out his own licence. Kim has trained at Thornfield Farm since 2006, which boasts top class facilities set in beautiful countryside.  Set in 1,000 acres of grazing farm land the horses have the   perfect environment to flourish. Kim has a highly skilled and friendly support

For over half a century Mick Easterby has trained champion racehorses from his yard at Sheriff Hutton. Mick Easterby has often been described as a 'legend', famed for his shrewd placement of horses and unsurpassed knowledge of every aspect of racing. Over the years he has sent out literally thousands of winners from his Sheriff Hutton stables. Famous winners include the Classic winning filly Mrs McArdy (1000 Guineas), sprinters Wiganthorpe (Gimcrack Stakes) and Lochnager (Champion sprinter), middle distance pattern winner Gentleman's Deal (Winter Derby) and most recently Hoof It (Stewards Cup 2011 and Stewards Sprint 2016) and Hoofalong (Scottish Sprint Cup). Famous jumpers ha

All of our horses start their journey, and return for their summer break at Mount Top Stud near Newtown Abbey in Northern Ireland. Under the watchful eye of Eyssen Ross and her son Kevin every racehorse in our care comes back in to work with its own tailor made pre-training regime following a summer break in the surrounding fields. Mount Top Stud is lucky to have safe riding routes for early road work, and gallop facilities for the early cantering routines. Work at the stud is supplemented by visits to the beach and nearby grass gallops, and schooling over both fences and hurdles.

More...