In the hot seat

Six-time winner Alfa Kellenic (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) starred for Craig Lidster in 2024 when he enjoyed the best year of his training career to date, but it's all change ahead of the start of the new Flat season on turf. The Rotherham-born trainer will be operating with a reduced string in 2025, having recently moved across North Yorkshire from Easingwold to Malton. Tell us a bit about your background and the path you took to becoming a trainer. I'm from a small town in Rotherham and I had no...

Tom Abel Smith set up Carrington Bloodstock in 2022 which operates out of Launde Park Farm in Leicestershire. Abel Smith previously worked at Juddmonte and Arrowfield Stud in Australia. He also has a background in polo. He now offers a comprehensive list of services to clients from boarding broodmares and youngstock to foaling and sales preparation. What made you happiest in 2024? Seeing horses going through the sales under our banner for the first time. Bit of a dream come true to be honest. How do you start your day?...

A multiple Group 1-winning jockey, Freddy Tylicki cruelly had his career in the saddle cut short when he was partially paralysed in a fall at Kempton back in October 2016. Nowadays, Tylicki is a familiar face on the sales circuit through his role as a bloodstock agent, as well as making regular appearances on our TV screens as a Sky Sports Racing pundit. In 2023, he added another string to his bow when he became a jockeys' agent, with two Flat riders currently on his books. Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles...

Former apprentice jockey Gemma Tutty turned her attentions to training when she took over the reins at Trenholme House Farm from her mother, Karen, in 2022. Based in North Yorkshire, Tutty enjoyed notable success with her select team in 2024 and is hoping to pick up where she left off when the Flat season on turf gets underway in less than 10 weeks. The yard sent out 27 winners and won just shy of £400,000 in prize-money in 2024. How do you reflect on last year as a whole? On...

The owner of Culworth Grounds Farm, home of young stallion El Caballo (GB), takes time out to face the TDN question master. You made the trip over for the Irish Stallion Trail. Where did you visit and what were your main takeouts from the trip? It was actually the first time that I had done the stallion trail, but I happened to be going home to visit my parents and thought I could double up. It was a great experience overall and a great opportunity to be able to see...

Jennie Candlish is a dual-purpose trainer based in Staffordshire. Her run of form under both codes has been impressive recently have ended 2024 with a winner and starting 2025 with one too. Candlish took some time out of training winners to answer our questions. What made you happiest in 2024? Having such happy horses and seeing the yard making such amazing progress, rewarding my wonderful team for all the hard work we all put in. How do you start your day? My day starts at 4:45 a.m., seven days a...

Conor Hyland is a graduate of the celebrated Irish National Stud Thoroughbred Breeding Course. Since completing the course in 2019, he has been based at the stud, where he holds the role as nominations and sales assistant.  This year represents a big one for the INS with long-time star of the roster Invincible Spirit (Ire) retired from stallion duties. Hyland discusses the new stallions on the roster, including first-season sire Shouldvebeenaring  (GB) and Lucky Vega (Ire), whose first two-year-olds are set to hit the track in Europe this year.  [caption...

Sam Goyette's love for horses started in the hunting field and evolved when he entered the world of bloodstock sales. Goyette honed his skills working for Salcey Forest, Blandford Bloodstock, Juddmonte and Overbury Stud. He is also a graduate of The National Stud course and in 2024 set up Oakhurst Stud with his fiancée, Kinsey Petyt. What made you happiest in 2024? It's a bob of the head between getting engaged to my partner Kinsey or starting up Oakhurst Stud and the support we received from our friends and family....

The bloodstock agent's dinner guests include a Benedictine monk and an Olympic gold medallist, but don't tell Harry Eustace that Hubie de Burgh no longer considers him a youngster. Proudest moment of 2023? Reaching 160 stakes races won by de Burgh Equine purchases since setting up the agency.  What is your biggest ambition for the new year? Keep on the bright side of life. Give us one horse to follow and why? No Knee Never (Ire) (No Nay Never), purchased for Bronsan Racing. And a young person in the industry...

Adam Ryan, who assists his father Kevin at their Hambleton Lodge yard in Thirsk, has high hopes for Shamardal colt Inisherin and a rising star on the pony racing circuit. Proudest moment of 2023? Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) winning the Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot. He was a horse who we'd always held in the highest regard and it was a proud achievement to not only achieve a Group 1 win but to do it on the biggest stage. He also went straight there without a run and...

Bloodstock agent Ed Sackville, a graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start and Highclere Stud, is hedging his bets by choosing "a son of Shamardal" to be leading first-season sire Proudest moment of 2023? Attending the Godolphin Flying Start 20-year anniversary event. I think I had completely failed to acknowledge what an amazing course the Flying Start is. It wasn't until I looked around the room and saw my fellow graduates that I appreciated the legacy the Flying Start has created within the Thoroughbred industry. What is your biggest ambition for...

He's moved yards over the winter, across town from Park Lodge Stables to Highfield Stables, and Newmarket trainer Harry Eustace now faces the question master. What are your goals for 2024? Carry on our trend of more winners and more prize-money than the previous year. Give us a horse to follow... Modern Times (GB), a three-year-old by Too Darn Hot (GB). And a young person in the industry to keep an eye on... Jack Jones, trainer on the up. Who do you think will be champion first-season sire in 2024?...