Liam Norris

Perhaps best known as Classic-winning owners, Martin and Lee Taylor now head to Sandown on Saturday with serious designs on entering the realm of Group 1-winning breeders, an ambition nearly two decades in the making for the brothers behind leading Coral-Eclipse contender Gethin (Ghaiyyath). Trained by Owen Burrows, Gethin still carried the green and red silks forever synonymous with Dancing Rain (Danehill Dancer), the Oaks heroine of 2011, up until his penultimate appearance on a racecourse, when he was an impressive winner of the Listed Magnolia Stakes at Kempton. So...

Wednesday's G2 Duke of Cambridge S. offered another episode of stalls drama that seems to have dogged the first two days of Royal Ascot, but by the time Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) had come home alone there was a sense that Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) would have needed wings had she not been removed from the contest after going down in the gates. Making her European return under a five-pound penalty due to her winning exploits in Newmarket's G1 Sun Chariot S. in October, the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained...

Continuing our assessment of the prospects of first-season sires with runners in 2021, bloodstock agent and breeder Liam Norris shares his view on this year's crop. He says, "Ardad (Ire) was such a good 2-year-old. We sent mares to him and from what I saw of his stock at the sales, they looked forward and racy types. I'd be disappointed if they don't pop out of the traps with huge precocity.  "I was always a huge fan of Highland Reel (Ire) as a racehorse. It's important not to forget that...

Who has been the biggest inspiration in your career and why? LN: The biggest inspiration on my career would have to be Bob McCreery. He was a magical person, had fabulous passion for his mares and bought into pedigrees that have consistently produced champions. Walking around his stock with him was what and does inspire me to become a breeder of his calibre. What's the best advice you've been given and why did it stick with you? LN: Eamon Reilly (BBA Ireland) and I have a knack of liking the...