Trainers

Roger Teal

Trains in Great Shefford, near Hungerford Berkshire.

Roger was born into racing with his mother training point to pointers before graduating to a permit licence. In 1994 upon leaving school Roger went to work for John Jenkins in Horsham and when John relocated to Epsom, Roger went with him. Roger took out an amateur licence to ride and was succesful on the flat and over jumps. John relocated to Royston but Roger stayed put in Epsom where he joined trainer Phillip Mitchell. It was during his time with Phillip that Roger became an assistant trainer and had the job of travelling around the world with then stable star Running Stag. Running Stag was very successful Stateside, also competing in France, Germany, Dubai and Hong Kong.

Roger started to train under his own name in 2007 in Epsom. He was immediately successful and guided the formidable Steele Tango to Group wins in the UK through to an international campaign winning twice at Meydan. Other notable stable stalwarts being Cochabamba, Tiger’s Tale and Surrey Star.

In 2015 Roger and his wife Sue themselves made the move from Epsom to Great Shefford near Lambourn. It didn’t take them long to start turning out the winners, training twenty in their first year from just sixteen horses. Since then Roger’s name has been kept in the news with his new stable star Tip Two Win. After winning the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster and finishing a fine 2nd in the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket last year, the Middle East called and Roger was again travelling his horse. Two victorious runs in Qatar then saw Tip line up in this years Group 1 English 2000 Guineas. For a small stable like team Teal to have a horse line up in the first classic of the season is a remarkable feat in itself. Tip Two Win ran his heart out to finish an admirable second to the Aiden O’Brien trained Saxon Warrior, himself a Group 1 winner as a two year old. On to Royal Ascot and a good fourth in the Group 1 St James Palace Stakes. Maybe a Breeder’s Cup trip on the horizon?

Roger had trained Look Surprised for owners Withyslade Farm last season, and now Starting Gate Racing with great consistency this year. Having her first run at Newbury in the red and blue colours of the new syndicate was nerve wracking to say the least. A third place was very happily received. The filly has since gone on to achieve two wins, a second and another third place from just six runs to date, giving Starting Gate Racing a flying start to the game.

Robert Walford

Trains at Okeford Fitzpaine, Dorset.

Rob was another born into horse racing. He hails from Yorkshire with both parents former jockeys and trainers. His brother rode successfully and now trains also. Whilst growing up Rob competed at show jumping and eventing but was soon riding out regularly for his parents and neighbour Mick Easterby. His first job after leaving school was down in Dorset with Robert Alner, now his father in law.

Rob had a great career in the saddle riding two hundred odd winners for an array of trainers, but most success came for the Alners. He counts a Grade 1 winner on Kingscliff in the Betfair Chase and a Cheltenham Festival winner on Honey Mount in the Kim Muir. Never one to take time off in the summer months he rode out for David Elsworth for ten years, Ralph Beckett for two years, spent three months in the US with Michael Dickinson and a three month stint riding and racing in France. Having established himself with Robert and partner of Robert’s daughter Louise, he started training in 2013.

Winners came fairly early and such good horses as Carole’s Spirit, Camping Ground and Walk In The Mill have headed the line up at Heart Of Oak Racing Stables. Training on gallops that have produced a Gold Cup winner, twenty Grade 1 winners, eight Cheltenham winners and every major staying chase in the calendar will help team Walford scale the heights they wish to achieve.

Richard Hughes

Trains in Upper Lambourn, Berkshire.

Richard needs very little introduction. He is a former three time champion jockey after a glittering career in the saddle spanning twenty five years. He rode a host of big race winners across the globe and is one of racing’s most recognised and likeable characters.

Richard hails from Ireland and is the son of the late great former jump jockey and succesful trainer Dessie Hughes. Dessie himself won a Cheltenham Gold Cup in the saddle and trained the hugely popular Hardy Eustace to win back to back Champion Hurdles.

Richard started pony racing as a young boy and was acknowledged as a huge talent. He came to England and very quickly established himself among the upper ranks in the weighing room. Riding primarily for Richard Hannon and a long retainer for Juddmonte Farms, big race winners became second nature. A seven timer at Windsor one afternoon also made headline news. Richard rode many great horses, among them Oasis Dream, Canford Cliffs, and classic winners Zenda, Sky Lantern and Talent.

In 2015 Richard hung up his boots and took up training, very quickly racking up over one hundred and fifty winners by the end of his third full season. Training from Weathercock House in Upper Lambourn with excellent facilities on offer, Richard has every chance of becoming as succesful in his second career as he did in his first. Interestingly enough he is quite keen on sending the odd runner across the channel to France to take advantage of the lucrative prize money on offer there.