Trainer Talk: James Ridley

James Ridley has been a well-known figure on the West Midlands pointing scene since riding his first winner in 2007.

Having started training alongside his career in the saddle, he and partner Jess Short moved to the historic Kinnersley yard in Worcestershire – from where Fred and Mercy Rimell looked after so many top-class horses, including four Grand National winners – in 2018. The move paid off immediately and James enjoyed easily his best year. I made a pre-season visit to these famous stables to talk to him about his burgeoning reputation.

I start my visit on the famous Kinnersley gallops with Clifford Rawlings, watching James, Jess and Will Gough work ex-National Hunt Pearls Legend, Halloween Harry (in pre-training for Philip Hobbs) and seasoned campaigner Templebraden. Clifford knows the yard better than most, as he explains: “I worked for Fred and Mercy from 1974 to 1991,” he tells me. “I was there with horses like Comedy Of Errors, Rag Trade and Royal Frolic.”

“It was bred into me,” laughs James as I ask about his background in the sport. “Mum (Heather) and Dad (Michael) hunted and used to train, and I was on a pony before I could walk. And my uncle is Bob Chapman, who used to ride for Fulke Walwyn.” As for his introduction to pointing, “I started riding out for Matt Sheppard and had a schoolmaster, Welburn Boy, then went to work for Katie Baimbridge while Julian Pritchard was there. He was my idol and I learnt more from her than anyone. I took a while to get going but started having a few outside rides and rode my first winner on Earl Of Buckingham for Claudia Wilesmith in 2007.”

James went to work for the great Richard Barber in 2008 and, while he only rode one winner – Spuddler’s Dream – for the master, “I got to ride horses like Rock On Ruby and Trust Fund at home and learnt how to train a good horse – how to get them fit and look after them.” Unfortunately, just as his career at Seaborough was getting going, James’ father fell ill and – as a result – he moved back home and went to work for Julie and Dave Mansell. “I started to get on better horses,” James recalls, “their Mister Kay Bee, Up There, Schindler’s Prince and, of course, Noble Ben.”

Owned and trained by his mother, Noble Ben’s victory in the two-mile Hunter Chase at Cheltenham in 2011 remains James’ highlight in the saddle. “It was my first win in a Hunter Chase, my first-ever ride at Cheltenham, and poignant as Dad was unwell,” he recalls. “I couldn’t really take it in.”

James, while only 30, is winding down his career as a jockey and explains why. “The more I ride while I’m training, the more chance of injury, which wouldn’t be fair on Jess as we do all the horses ourselves most days. Besides, we couldn’t afford to replace me! But I still love riding, and am making plans for this season.”

The move into training was a natural step for James. “Mum did a few from home and we had Turn Up with the Sheppards. I remember winning on him at Worcester – A P McCoy was third on an odds-on shot! So being at home and being able to put everything I’d learnt into action, got me going.” Having trained first at Redmarley, then Bromyard, it was training from Jess’ home, Oak Farm, also in Kinnersley, that got James the move to his current base. “The Spearings (who train professionally at Kinnersley) asked if we were interested in coming here and we said we’d love to do it if we could find the horses and owners. We just had Big Georgie but we bought Chase Me from Nigel Twiston-Davies and got Rigadin De Beauchene from Venetia Williams. Then Nick Jones sent us Draft Pick and the Olivers sent us four, including Green Winter and Templebraden. We suddenly went from three to eight! I think the name and history here helped,” he confesses.

James trained 11 winners last year and, asked about the secret of his success, he admits to a combination of factors, including the move to Kinnersley and better horses. “Having happy horses is the main thing. We turn them all out daily,” he confirms. “They’re not machines and like to have a roll, a kick and a buck, and get muddy! We vary their work, feed them well and get them fit. Plus…” he continues, “…we place them well. We run them on tracks that suit and we’re not afraid to travel,” as evidenced by his cross-country double in March with Big Georgie at High Easter and Green Winter at Larkhill.

He’s also keen to praise Jess for her involvement. “I don’t think I’d be training if it wasn’t for her,” admits James. “She works alongside me day in, day out, and, if she didn’t have the same thoughts as me about coming here, we wouldn’t be where we are today. She gets all the horses ready on race days, and – even if I say so myself –they look spectacular! Jess has been involved in horses since childhood, working in a dressage yard, then eventing, before finding her passion in racing. She also tries to get out hunting on her former racehorse Silver Steed when she has time.” Sounds like a busy girl!

James currently has ten pointers in his yard – the five to follow plus Big Georgie, Chase Me, Templebraden, a four-year-old Kayf Tara filly, and a three-year-old filly by Double Eclipse. Big Georgie “looks like he’s in foal, as always, but doesn’t take long to get ready, and Jess, who has ridden in a charity race and does loads of hunting, would love to ride him in points”, laughs James. “He might go to Barbury for the Conditions race in December.” The experienced Templebraden is likely to start at Howick next week before going to Barbury, where he won last year, while Chase Me – who won three times in 2019 – is likely to run in Novice Riders’ contests with Will Gough. “Zak Baker rides Sarah and Michael Oliver’s horses,” James explains, “while I like to use the best available who will suit the horse and like to reward jockeys who come and ride out.”

Plans laid bare, we adjourn to the pub for a discussion on the state of the sport and James doesn’t hold back. Answering my usual question about the first thing he’d do if he was in charge of the sport, he comes up with three!

“I’d remove the cap on prize money for hunts that can afford it,” James starts off. “It barely covers the cost of fuel and entry. “Then I’d like to stop professional trainers running horses in Hunter Chases, but I know that’s not going to happen, so I’d have more of the Grassroots series – I think that’s a brilliant idea.” And finally? “We need to do something about car passes. Syndicates should get more than one pass per horse – I’ve had new owners who are surprised at being asked to pay to get in.”

Just because James is vocal about what he’d like to put right doesn’t mean he isn’t positive about the state of pointing. Indeed, he finds a lot to be cheerful about. “It’s a great grounding for jockeys,” he says. “There are lots of up and coming stars – look at all the Welsh lads – and it’s a great market for young horses,” he goes on. “We’re catching up with the Irish and getting English pointing noticed. I’d love to do it myself, but haven’t got the money to invest – you need to spend money on a good store. But,” he sounds a cautionary note, “the weight difference between four-year-olds and older horses needs to be restricted if they’re going to make really good money.”

James has seen a number of improvements in his time in the sport, most notably the rider sponsorship scheme. “It’s made a big difference,” he confirms. “The licence costs almost £200, then there are body protectors, helmets, insurance… it all adds up when you’re not meant to be getting paid!” He’s also a fan of Point-to-Point Flat races. “They’re a new avenue, brilliant for experience, and I’ll run a couple of my youngsters in them this season.”

Before I take my leave, I ask James what he thinks about some of the recent changes to the sport, starting with hunting. “We hunt some of ours,” he confirms. “But although I’m in favour of horses not having to hunt, I think any horse running in a Members’ race should have been seen out hunting locally. Two-and-a-half-mile races are a definite yes for me,” James continues. “They open up opportunities for more horses and help keep the numbers up,” and he’s also in favour of a cap on the number of Conditions races a horse can win in a year – “It stops pot hunting and horses winning week in, week out without penalties.”

“What I love most about pointing,” James concludes, “is the social side. It’s a family effort and Jess’ Mum, aunt and John Burke’s widow Lynne do evening stables when we’re racing. Owners can interact with their horse before and after a race, and we all picnic at the lorry, regardless of the weather. It’s great for owners to be close to the horses – you can’t do that under Rules.”

And his final word? The stable motto – “A happy yard’s a successful yard.”

JAMES RIDLEY’S FIVE TO FOLLOW

Cashmoll

A nice mare. She won a weak race at Bredwardine, but she was challenging at Woodford the time before when she fell at the last behind a nice horse of Tom Lacey’s. Owned, like Green Winter and Templebraden, by Sarah and Michael Oliver.

Desperate Man

Ex-Irish, he has matured very well over the summer, strengthened up a lot, and does everything very nicely at home, so hopefully there’s a lot more to come from him.

Green Winter

Consistent as anything and tries very hard. He’ll start earlier this year, will be aimed at the first Larkhill fixture, and we’ll go from there. As long as conditions aren’t too extreme either way, he’s happy.

Pearls Legend

Ex-John Spearing, still owned by Guardian journalist Henry Porter, and has won at Cheltenham and Sandown. 12 now, and off the track since last June, he’ll start at Cottenham on Sunday before a Hunter Chase campaign over two and two-and-a-half miles.

3yo Dr Massini gelding

We broke him in this summer, then he had some time out before coming back in last month. He gives me a good feel at home – I like the way he goes – and he won’t take much getting ready. He’ll probably have his first run in a Flat race in mid-late January.