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Shropshire trainer Belinda Clarke is looking forward to a busy campaign with her largest string to date. The majority of her dozen-strong team are comparatively unexposed youngsters, with a few exceptions.

Belinda, who comes from a family steeped in hunting and racing, started training in 2005 with just one horse of her own, the then four-year-old, Belligerent, who was to do her proud with four victories between the flags plus plenty of placings, including in Hunter Chases. He was sold to her by licensed trainer John Upson.

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Upson it was who helped her get started with her own business - she is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor - by giving her some work for his construction company, as well as sending her horses for remedial work and later encouraging her to start training Pointers.

Belinda now operates as a self-employed project manager from the Clarke family's farm at Middleton Priors, with her job sometimes involving a trip to London. Unlike her clients, though, there is no booted and suited power dressing. As she organises her working hours around the horses she is more likely to turn up to meetings in her mucking-out jeans!

She makes sure that she does the morning and evening feeds and is available to watch the work. She tries to ride every day but sometimes finds that it is advantageous to be watching from ground level.

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The facilities at the yard have all been installed under Belinda's supervision. An outdoor arena has plenty of room for schooling over jumps, and there is a three-furlong woodchip gallop with an uphill pull which joins on to a two-furlong circular fibresand canter track. The horses themselves are housed in roomy boxes in two large barns, and are turned out in the paddocks every day.

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The horses were put through their paces in the arena in front of the assembled audience, the majority under saddle but the youngsters in hand. "You need a loudspeaker," Belinda was told as she gave a short résumé of each one, to which came the reply "When I've trained a Foxhunters' winner I'll get one."

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Mandy Davies, Ali Galliers-Pratt, Will Price and the currently injured Gina Woods comprise the staff at Home Farm, while those who come to ride out include Liam Payter, Robbie Hornby, who is going to the British Racing School in February and like Liam works for Henry Daly, and Oli Wadlow, an accountant now based in Bristol.

Liam is taking over from Oli's brother Adam, who has hung up his boots, as stable jockey, while Oli himself has a new ride in Two Euros, who was twice placed in Irish Maidens at the end of last season.

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Ali had a few rides for experience last season, and she teams up this time with five-year-old Mr Melodious, who won three races from Richard Bevis's yard earlier this year. He will go in Novice Riders' contests and Ladies' Opens.

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One person who will not be picking up a racing saddle is Belinda herself, whose intended debut came to nought. "I was all set to ride Duhallow Boy at the Wheatland in 1994 but it was called off due to waterlogging and I didn't have another go," she explained.

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Three of those who represented the stable last year will be in action again. The giant Clap de L'Aube - "I'll measure him this year because I'm sure he's grown again this summer!" Belinda laughed - won his Maiden at Garnons on an unsuitably quick surface. He may be ready early in the hope that his favoured softer ground will prevail.

The Howardian - "If he was a dog he'd definitely be a Labrador because he doesn't mind a bit of mud!" - will be aimed at Chaddesley Corbett after Christmas providing the going is soft, and Belinda is also hoping for yielding ground at Garnons or Bangor where he has previously scored on two occasions.

Third of the trio is Alcarson, who was placed in all four outings last season. He has strengthened up and is reported to jump like a buck, and there are high hopes for him this time. By Alflora, he was bred by Willie Carson, hence his name.

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Automaticman had two runs in Points for Belinda in 2010 then went to Henry Daly. After a promising Bumper display he succumbed to the virus which hit the yard and performed poorly over hurdles, but he is back for another crack in the amateur scene.

The highly-regarded Anshantor's only outing under Rules yielded a third place in an Aintree Bumper, but Chasing looks to be his game. He is owned by a syndicate of 11, so there is plenty of scope for celebration should he make the winner's enclosure.

That's Mine was bought at Doncaster in May out of Jonjo O'Neill's yard, having finished third in a Novice Hurdle. He is being prepared for an early run, possibly at Barbury.

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The unraced five-year-old Mojito Minty - "We all drank Mojitos at David Minton's 60th birthday party last year" - is described by Belinda as "the most athletic horse I've ever had." Presumably, then, his role model in athleticism is not the man from whom he takes his name. He may take the Bumper route, as might the three-year-olds Morville (by Fair Mix) and Botswana (by Alflora).

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An unknown quantity is an unraced six-year-old by Kayf Tara, bought from Tessa Greatrex. His debut has been delayed due to a missed season after suffering a virus as a four-year-old.

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Belinda always has shares available, and can be contacted through her website, www.middletonracing.co.uk.

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