14 Feb 2025

Horse Trainers: Andrew Balding 2YO Inside Info

I've been updating my Horse Trainer Stats for Andrew Balding. Kingsclere - Park House Stables is one of the more powerful two-year-old outfits.

Balding succeeded his father, Ian, in 2003.

My personal data doesn't go back that far. However, our sample details just under 950 debutantes.This research helps in our gambling pursuits. The difference between data analysis, rather than second guessing, is that we know the 'truth' and it is a foundation to informed knowledge.

It is interesting how your perception of a trainer may be wrong. I know some say: 'Perception is reality' and that is true until you see the data.

Andrew Balding is a high-profile trainer with a wealth of owners and quality horses.

Top-class two-year-old winners include:

2022 - Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1) - Chaldean

2020 - Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1) - Alcohol Free

2019 - Vertem Futurity Trophy (Group 1) - Kameko

2014 - Vertem Futurity Trophy (Group 1) - Elm Park

2000 Guineas: Both Kameko (2020) & Chaldean 2023) won this Classic.

Let's take a look at his two-year-old numbers. Flat season (March - November).

2021 - 65

2022 - 80

2023 - 97

2024 - 82

Balding is a talented two-year-old trainer. However, his debut win rate at 7% is nothing out of the ordinary. It's rather unnerving that he only had 4 debut winners in 2024. In fact, his stable isn't about early runners and his juveniles feature a better win rate from June onwards.

He has had debut winners up to 50/1. This compares with many larger stables who rarely win at big odds.

So what does the data say?

I'm not going to detail the exact stats because its not in my interests to do so. However, his two-year-old debutantes often struggle to win. Probably, at best, they are price to chance.

As seen with most trainers, two-year-olds have a much greater chance of winning on their second start. He's had winners up to 125/1. This was the extreme, as the next best was priced 40/1. In general, horses on their second start win at shorter odds than debutantes.

Balding often sends his better juveniles to race at Salisbury.

I often find his horses go well on testing ground.

Good luck for the season ahead.

13 Feb 2025

Flat Horse Trainer Facebook Links

(List updated and complete)

Michael & David Easterby

Dominic Ffrench Davis

Daniel Mark Loughnane

Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Kevin Philippart de Foy

11 Feb 2025

Flat Horse Trainer X Links (Completed)

I wish I could say updating Horse Trainer Directory is a pleasure. To be fair, it is hard work, and a boring endeavour. However, to get it up to speed I have to put in the hours and progress in a relentless fashion.

I hope when all these things are completed, it will be appreciated by readers.

Time will tell.

I'm pleased to say the Flat Trainer X (.com) links have been completed. I thought it would take a few more days but I went the extra mile and got them done. Pleased to say that as I was running on fumes by the time I got to trainers with the surname beginning with W.

All these things are pretty much a thankless task.

However, I will be progressing until every last trainer of both codes is done and dusted.

Anyway, if you haven't got a clue what I have been talking about or what I've done take a look at this page: Flat Trainer X Links.

There are plenty of trainers on X.

We will have a new account on X. We used to have one (Twitter) which hadn't been used for such a long time it has been deleted. To be fair, it is better to start afresh as we can learn from past mistakes and be more professional. I'm expecting to see a decent number of horse trainers following us and that should give us some clout to get more followers.

Time will tell. It doesn't pay to count your chickens as some trainers are a touch snooty (I know I shouldn't say it but I could send them an owner and they still wouldn't be a follow). However, we have had a decent connection with a lot of trainers and they do appreciate us. If I had someone working for free, I would be treating them like a God.

Anyway, one more page on Horse Trainer Directory has been crossed off the list.

Next, Facebook Flat Horse Trainer Pages.

Then, the two new pages Instagram and YouTube.

Once complete it will be rinse and repeat for the National Hunt trainers which may take me a little longer as I am less familiar with that code.

Thanks for reading.

7 Feb 2025

Alice Haynes 2YO Horse Racing

It's been a pretty long day.

However, it's that time of year when I start updating my two-year-old Horse Trainer Stats. That's thoroughbred horses. It has to be done, so I start and finish in ernest. It is a time-consuming endeavour. However, if you want to understand data-driven knowledge you had best put in the hours as no one else is going to tell you where to find the gold. They wouldn't even share the map so unless you learn via osmosis you have no hope. I'm always fearful someone may do that osmosis thing so if anyone has the look of a horse racing anorak and stands too close I swiftly walk away.

I don't want anyone messing with my brain.

Anyway, Alice Haynes.

It's interesting that she trains at Kremlin Cottages, Newmarket, Snailwell Road.

I always remember Ron Boss trained at Snailwell Road. The Welsh wonder who had two-year-olds such as Mon Tresor (1988) and Balla Cove (1989) who both won the Middle Park Stakes (Group 1). I see he passed away in 2023. He even had a Classic winner in Olwyn (1997) taking the Irish Oaks.

A brilliant trainer.

Interesting to look at Haynes' two-year-olds. It looks like she started training in 2021. Over the Flat turf seasons (March - November) she has had a total of 107 debutantes. She has a 13% strike rate and 30% place with all juveniles making their racecourse bow. Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of her debut winners come early season.

From the 13 debut winners, the biggest price has been 22/1. However, the majority have been single-figure odds.

Looking at the data, I would suggest they are a money stable and if debutantes are fancied they are most likely to be backed.

Horses on their second start have fair chances. Bar one big-priced winner, the others featured pretty well in the betting.

Two-year-old horse numbers:

2021 - 9

2022 - 24

2023 - 33

2024 - 41

Last year, Big Cyril was one of the better juveniles for the stable. In the ownership of Allsop And Co, this strong-looking son of No Nay Never out of an unraced mare was quite a costly purchase at 125,000 (Euros). Making his debut in the month of May, he made a sound debut at Yarmouth (27th) when finishing third behind El Burhan who was making his second start for George Boughey. Big Cyril ran well over 7f at odds of 22/1.

He won well second start at Ayr, dropping back to 6f. Although a small field of 5 horses, the 11/4 shot won 'readily'.

He wasn't disgraced when stepping up to Listed class at Newbury, finishing third, beaten less than two-lengths.

Next start this colt contested the Richmond Stakes (Group 2) at Goodwood when beaten three lengths into sixth at odds of 33/1. There was much to like about that performance hinting a step up to 7f may bring further improvement.

Big Cyril doesn't hold any big-race entries at this time but he will be winning at three and could well be a black-type horse.

Alice Haynes is very much a two-year-old horse trainer and gets a number of horses from Amo Racing among others and could well do well this new season.

Definitely worth keeping an eye on her debutantes especially when backed.

Horse Trainers on X.com

Another day, another dollar.

That's what they say. I wouldn't mind being a pound, dollar or cent behind Elon Musk. I mention the man himself, as I'm updating Horse Trainer Directory to detail those stables big and small who have an X account. Previously, known as Twitter. Unfortunately, having started to update the old links and noticed they didn't redirect to X which is slightly surprising. So my page of links to the said company are all broken. I can't imagine Google is looking upon me with anything but disdain.

Anyway, it's even more reason to update the links. I've deleted a few trainers who have retired, passed away or just not on X. There are a few trainers who just don't bother with social media or a website.

I've updated a few links and even have X rather than Twitter icon on the page. Take a look by clicking this link to the page. I know you are thinking if this is progress then I must be one step ahead of the dodo.This website is a work in progress so please bare with me. I wish I had Paul Daniels here and he could wave his magic wand and 'Bob's your uncle' the whole site it sparkling and new.

I don't even have Debbie McGee in the wings so it's just me on my tod.

However, I am pleased with the progress. It's like climbing Everest. You get to the top and realise Yetis do exist.

I will be adding a page for Instagram and may even do the same for YouTube.

One step at a time, hey.

6 Feb 2025

Horse Trainer Directory - Update (Flat Blog Links Completed)

Good news for Horse Trainer Directory fans.

I'm pleased to announce Flat Horse Trainer Blog/News links have been completed. If there is a horse trainer with a blog or news to tell then it is on this list. To be fair, if there is ever going to be a broken link it will be with these pages for trainer websites. They seem to change pages at a drop of a hat.

It is fair to say that many horse trainers start blogs with the best of intentions and one day it simply stops in its track - dead as a dodo.

There's only so much time in a day and I guess half an hour writing about the latest stable news doesn't show much of a return for the profit line.

I know the feeling working on this beast of a website.

If a trainer hasn't updated a blog for a time I don't add them to the list. It looks poor on a horse trainer if you go to the blog or latest news and their last entree was back in 2015. I usually check to see if they are still in business. It isn't a good look and I imagine it has put off a few potential owners. Who knows, but I would say to trainers even updating a blog once a month is better than not at all. If you've given up the ghost, I'd delete the whole thing.

So what next?

The updates continue. It's a long old road to get to our destination - completion (whatever that means).

Next, we will be updating the Flat horse trainer X links for trainers big and small. It shows how needed this is because we still have the heading as Twitter. Elon Musk came along like a cheap aftershave. So I will need to make a little graphic too. Anyway, that was a cheap joke at his expense. He can afford it!

So over the next two weeks I will be updating the X links for trainers. I have noticed a lot more trainers use social media platforms to detail their news, winners, gripes and well-placed bets (strangely, I've never read a trainer detail a good bet).

Here's to progress.

5 Feb 2025

Directory Of Horse Trainers

So why is this Directory of Horse Trainers better than most?

I often check to see where Horse Trainer Directory features in the Google searches. Sometime it's at the top of the tree positioned number 1 or a featured snippet. Other times it is so far down the search I wonder why I bother to waste my time.

However, we have to remain positive and if something can be done to amend such bias then I'll crank out another article to fill the void.

Searching for Directory Of Horse Trainers, this website seems halfway down page one. I saw it and felt slightly irritated. So here I am writing a post to target that exact search term and I will see if I can appear higher in the rankings.

I'm probably one of few people who write a post half complaining about the situation to usurp the competition. If I need motivation to write something then it makes sense to me to detail my complaint or annoyance to hit the highs.

I searched for the term: Directory of horse trainer websites and we are number 1.

I think Google hates Blogger. Considering it owns the platform you'd think they'd give you a leg up rather than a kick in the guts but I think they are interested in the latter.

Are we heading for the disaster of Google+ which was wiped out a few years back because the powers that be realised it was a dead duck. Like most of these ridiculous Google updates which seem manufactured to destroy people's websites.

I will probably be targeted like a page or two of George Orwell's 1984 by Big Brother. I always wonder what big sister looks like?

Anyway, I've written this 2-minute hate to stroll up the search engine for the term: Directory of Horse Trainers.

It's nothing to do with keyword stuffing.

I'll be checking to see if I'm at the top of the tree.

We live in hope.

Big up the Blogger.

4 Feb 2025

Cheltenham Gold Cup Winning Favourites

Cheltenham Gold Cup Winning Favourites.

You know who I'm talking about.

Galopin Des Champs.

Recent winner at Fairyhouse, heading to Prestbury Park for the Festival which takes place on the 14th March 2025. Willie Mullins' super horse put Fact To File in his place on the 1st February in the Irish Gold Cup Chase. The odds-on shot, lengthened well in the closing stages to pull clear by four and three quarter lengths.

Full result.

Bookmakers rushed for cover and Galopin Des Champs' odds shortened from 1/1 to 4/7.

Can anything stop this gelding from making it 3 Cheltenham Gold Cup victories on the bounce?

By 4:10 pm, I'll be counting my shekels.

This son of Timos out of the mare Manon Des Champs is no stranger to this 3m 2 1/2f and 22 fences. Mrs Audrey Turley must be sipping her cup of earl grey tea in quiet comfort. With a win prize of £351,688 this exceptional horse could have total earnings of just under £2M.

I know one thing for certain, Willie Mullins is much better in the Gold Cup than Grand National, which has been dire.

I remember my old gran used to say: 'Don't count your chickens...'

I'm here counting bundles if not Boodles of cash.

He has been a winning favourite in his last two Gold Cups.

2023 - Galopin Des Champs 7/5f

2024 - Galopin Des Champs 10/11f

In recent years, the Cheltenham Gold Cup favourites have performed well. Although in the last 50 years since 1974 there have been just 13 winning favourites.

Who doesn't love to back the good old jolly?

Sometimes it has been a long wait.

Who could forget wonder mare Dawn Run, won in 1986 at 15/8f.

Punters had to wait 16 years for the next favourite to scoot home!

No one minded waiting for this superstar:

2002 - Best Mate 7/1

2003 - Best Mate 13/8f

2004 - Best Mate 8/11f

Henrietta Knight was the last trainer to have three wins on the trot for owner Jim Lewis.

We have to go back to Arkle (1964 - 1966) to see the last horse to show the way with a trio of wins.

If you have a long memory you may just about remember Cottage Rake did the same from (1948 - 1950).

The greatest winner of all time being Dorothy Paget's Golden Miller (1932 - 1936) who won an unprecedented 5 times on the bounce.

Since 2003, there have been 12 favourites win. A fair percentage (57%). Perhaps that figure will add to the confidence of Galopin Des Champs.

Good luck on the day.

3 Feb 2025

Horse Trainers Love Social Media

Image by ibrandify on Freepik

I'm still updating the Flat Trainer Blog Links. They should be completed in the next few days. That's not the end of the updates. Far from it. I have lots more to do on the Flat trainer info before moving onto the National Hunt.

All these things take time. I just keep working until the work is done.

A number of Horse Trainers have given up on their websites and blogs focusing on social media. For example, John Berry used to love his blog but now he's all over X (formerly known as Twitter). All we can do is follow their lead (which we have done) and detail horse trainer social media platforms.

In fact, we've always detailed X and Facebook.

I've noticed a lot of horse trainers are using Instagram as it's an ideal way to get the message across with photos of all and sundry. Beautiful photos of thoroughbreds are a sight to behold and especially at the races. Instagram is a very good platform to promote and we are please to say that another page will be added to Horse Trainer Directory detailing both codes of racing: Flat & National Hunt.

So we will have an Instagram page so all the info whether websites, blog/news and social media is just a click away.

This will take a week or two to complete but the best things are worth the wait and when the Flat trainer info (followed by the National Hunt trainers) is complete the website will be exceptional. The work is long over due and I have noticed the traffic to this website is doing a bit better of late which motivates me to press on.

Anyway, we are getting there.

Photo: Freepik

4 Jan 2025

Horse Trainer Website Vanished

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise.

As I continue to update the Flat horse trainer blogs I've notice a few anomalies. To be fair, horse trainer blog and news pages are notorious for disappearing, updated five years back or domains curled up and died.

Anyway, I have been updating the list from A - Z.

I don't think there are any trainers with a surname beginning with Z.

Wait a minute, what about that new trainer Eric Zoopla!

However, he doesn't exist. I can't find his website anywhere. Perhaps I was mistaken. So back to the horse trainers and their websites. Now, I don't want to be one of these website shamers because there may be many and varied reasons why a trainer does or doesn't have a website (or a blog or news page). I understand it. Perhaps a website isn't at the top of your list. The rich list have the money, the glamour, the horses to put on a show. While others don't have much to sing and dance about. It's a strange thing why some very high-profile trainers don't bother with a website.

It is also quite surprising that others have given up the ghost on their domain. Whether it just slipped off the radar or was given up as a bad job.

And then you get a few trainers (and I won't point them out) their website looks like it was build at the dawn of the dotcom bubble and sadly it burst. I'm not sure which platform some of these are on but they look as old as the hills. Scarily old. Perhaps they don't have the money to update or can't be bothered. However, when you consider it may be the first and last thing a prospective horse owner may see I can't imagine the conversion rate is very high.

In fact, it probably does their business more damage than not.

I'd love to give a few examples of websites which fall flat but its not about picking on people.

I'm continuing to update the Flat horse trainer blogs. I must apologise for snail-like progress.

Slowly, but surely, it will get there.

If I have one message for horse trainers big and small, make sure your website looks like it was made this century.

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