GRASSROOTS: WILL BADLAN

A fantastic race-riding return for 27-year-old Will Badlan on Sunday when his and his Mum, Jane’s French Symphony won the closing Maiden at Dunsmore in Devon. Wolverhampton-based Will Badlan, who is a farrier by trade, was having his first ride of the season and was also enjoying a race-riding return since having his season halted in April due to breaking his shoulder at Woodford.

Six-year-old French Symphony, who is trained by Justin Brotherton in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, was bought by Badlan out of Ben Pauling’s yard. From 11 runs under-rules, he had finished third on six occasions and had the benefit of a run over fences. Badlan tells me: “He had made the running under-rules over two miles and two-and-a-half, and Justin and I decided we would tuck him in, follow the fancied horses, and he saw it out well. His pedigree isn’t a strong staying one so we wanted to be patient first time over three.”

Badlan had his first ride in a point-to-point in 2016 on Grand Fella, trained by Sue Taylor and Paul Jones, better known for their handling of 2008 Aintree Fox Hunters’ Chase winner Christy Beamish. A decision to focus on training to be a farrier took over, and a six-season break was enforced. He says: “I put on a lot of weight during those years and barely rode, but once I had established my business, I decided I still wanted to point-to-point. We sourced Steady The Ship from Jo Priest, and he was perfect. He was capable of being competitive and I had my first winner on him at Andoversford in April 2023. Soon after that win, Vicki Sollit, who knew him from Jo’s, wanted to buy him. Vicki rides in points and in the military races, and he has been perfect for that.”

Looking through Badlan’s statistics and chatting to him, it is clear he is strategic when buying, running and selling his horses. He is an amateur in every sense of the word, but there is no doubt he wants to do it well and gives it all a lot of thought. He talks me through his formula. “I like to buy a maiden off the track with some form, the been there and done it type bar winning. A change of scenery and a different regime can perk them up, and we go from there.”

When we spoke on Thursday, Badlan was proud to tell me that six-year-old Avada Kedarva had just won over hurdles at Taunton for licensed trainer David Bridgwater. A Howick maiden winner last March when in Badlan’s ownership, Avada Kedarva had been bought out of Nicky Henderson’s yard following a lacklustre early career and placed in training with Jo Priest. After he won his maiden second time on the course with Badlan in the saddle, Bridgwater was quick to show an interest. The association with Bridgwater continues with Badlan having recently purchased One Man Party from him. An eight-year-old maiden with snippets of form, Badlan has been put with Jo Priest and hopes to be ready to run in February or March.

“He won’t be a sell back to the track type, he is too old, but he will be fun, and if he goes well, he may be saleable as a schoolmaster.” He says, and on that note, I ask him about his recent sale of Western Cowboy, a horse on whom he enjoyed two victories. “He was a star, and we had a lot of fun, but I like new challenges, and I felt it was time he could go on and give someone else the fun he had me.”

We reflect on his strategy, and he says: “Some owners cannot afford to pay for a four or five-year-old maiden winner, they just can’t. But there is a place for these older, more exposed horses to go pointing, win, reset them and go back under rules. Much like the Avada Kedarva today, everyone is happy, and no one has spent a fortune. You buy a smart youngster, and the money just vanishes. I am trying to tap into something a bit different and give everyone a bite of the cherry.”

I caught up with Badlan on his travels back home from Jo Priests. He tells me: “I go to Justin’s on a Thursday morning and Jo’s after that. I then go shoeing and do the horses at home. Thursdays are really the only day I ride, I am busy being a farrier the rest of the time.” At home, Mum, Jane has a couple, an open team-chaser and always a youngster or two. Helping with them and running his successful shoeing business keeps Badlan busy.

Brotherton, who has trained a couple of winners for Badlan, says: “Will is a great lad and has become a friend, he is a super-hero owner who comes and rides out, schools, and although he isn’t my farrier, if one has lost a shoe and he is here, he sorts it for me! When called upon for advice, he is very helpful but never interferes. He is very knowledgeable and knows all the tracks. He is his only critic and reads a race well; he works very hard and deserves success.”

Onwards and upwards, Badlan concludes by saying: “I love pointing, galloping around a farmer’s field! If any of mine needed to run in a hunter-chase, I would gladly put someone else on. My only ambition is to ride out my novice claim and to keep doing what I am doing for as long as I can.”