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DUKE OF KENTFORD: reformed character could go Hunter Chasing
photo: Mark Fettes

Carolyn Tanner visits the yard of Stuart Morris, who retired from riding last year.

It might be thought that an ex-jockey would be the most difficult sort of trainer for whom to ride, but Stuart Morris is not one of the "I could do it better myself" brigade. "However much you plan, things don't always work out," he points out. "We've all ridden in races where things have gone wrong, and besides, I only use riders I trust - I wouldn't let any muppet on them!"

Stuart was one of the country's most outstanding jockeys prior to his enforced retirement from the saddle midway through last season, when a fall at Brafield left him with facial and eye injuries. He had already made one remarkable comeback, a fall in 2002 necessitating a six-hour operation to remove and repair his skull after a scan revealed a tear in the lining of his brain.

His final tally of winners between the flags was 162, the last of those coming after the season when his South Wold mount Teeton Coral was promoted following the disqualification, at a Disciplinary Panel enquiry, of Oojar. He was joint runner-up in the Men's Championship in 2003, and he also partnered 27 winners under Rules, riding regularly for Chris Bealby and for Henrietta Knight, at whose yard he was based for a time.

The only horse he trained in 2008, Tom Joule's Paulinski, won twice, and since then Stuart has been gradually building up his yard. This year, following the retirement of Bill Warner, for whom he rode countless winners over several years, he has been sent horses by Judy Wilson, and his 14 boxes are all full. "I've been asked to have more but I've turned them down," he said. "I've got just the right number now."

"I do miss the riding, and especially the craic when you're driving to the races," he confessed, but tempered this by adding "but when I see 15 Maidens all playing up at the start I'm glad I'm not among them!"

Stuart is a joint-Master of the Pytchley, so understandably his horses are all well-hunted. "I love hunting Pointers," he admits. "Any fence you jump with them is a challenge." He rents his Winwick yard from James Mills, and has access to as much turn-out as he wants. Stuart does not believe in molly-coddling his charges, who go out in the fields every day, come rain, hail or shine. "I turn them out together, and it's a chance you take. Sometimes I can't bear to look when they're jumping around and playing, but they soon settle down, especially now they're used to going out." The horses also school over the Pytchley team chase course, which runs across the land.

Richard Pringeur, who had one ride between the flags when he worked for Mike and Annie Connell, and Faye Conway, who was formerly with Caroline Bailey and has already had a couple of good spins on her own Scott's Mill this season, are with Stuart full-time, and among those who come to ride out is Camilla Cotton, whose Rajam was placed three times last year.

"As nice a horse as I've ever sat on" is how Stuart describes COOLEFIND, who twice finished third in the Pertemps (Horse & Hound) Cup at Stratford, but whose jumping frailties prevented him from reaching the very top of the tree. Now 13 but with relatively few miles on the clock, he has lost a bit of speed but is still very enthusiastic. He is entered at both Horseheath and Whitfield over the weekend, with plans yet to be finalised. If all goes well with him and he shows he retains ability he may be sent Hunter Chasing.

Stuart was delighted with the performance at North Carlton of WALTER'S LADDIE, who went down by just a short-head to Menchikov. He likes good ground, and is highly rated enough by his handler to be a possible contender in the pointtopoint.co.uk (John Corbet Cup) Hunter Chase at Stratford.

TINKER'S BURROW, who struck into herself on her second outing last year, also went to North Carlton, but as she needs cut in the ground she stayed on the lorry when Stuart considered the going was too quick for her. She is very well thought of, but her jumping has lacked confidence so she has been hunted a lot.

ABBEY ST BATHANS, a half-sister to Walter's Laddie, has not lived up to her early promise, although she shows her trainer quite a bit at home. "She jumps well, but she's really buzzy, although she is settling better," said Stuart, who is still not convinced that she gets the three-mile trip. She has been fired in the past, and has not got the best of legs.

Making up Judy Wilson's quintet is BADGERLAW, who was bought unbroken by Judy and her late husband Lynn. He won over hurdles and fences in Ireland for them but as he never ran a bad race he remained high in the handicap, hence the decision to bring him Pointing. His was abnormally keen at Ampton, where his front-running tactics just failed to see him home.

Tim Curtis's LADY ATHLACCA should have already had a run this season, but unfortunately she has fractured a splint bone so will need a month's box rest. She was mentally green last year but Stuart is sure she will pick up a Maiden. She needs cut in the ground and will be out towards the end of March.

ANAMCQUEEN finished fourth at Higham on Sunday. She needed the run and will come on a lot, says Stuart, who believes she is nailed on for a Maiden. She had a wind operation before last season, and needs good ground.
She and ALFLORA DORA belong to Mark Barthorpe, a generous sponsor in the Midland area. The latter has strengthened up and is much more settled. She has loads of gears and should progress through the grades during the season.

Johnny Bailey will ride the majority of Stuart's, but Nick Pearce will be on Ian and Tom Joule's DUKE OF KENTFORD. "Hunting has made him," stressed Stuart, "but the first time I took him out I thought he was a lunatic and I nearly came home after half an hour." He was virtually unsteerable when he first arrived, and was liable to bolt. He can still be quirky but Nick, who is sponsored by Joules, gets on well with him. He is improving all the time and if he progresses he will run in a Hunter Chase. His season will commence at Thorpe on February 13.

James Mills's CAN'T AGREE, a six-year-old home-bred mare by Dansili out of an unraced dam, was named, on Stuart's suggestion, when none of the Mills family could agree on what she should be called. She was due to run last year but sustained a fracture when she got kicked high up on her front leg. "When she schools it's like sitting on an old handicapper," is Stuart's assessment.

John Harker's BREAKING POINT has been sent to Stuart by Paul Webber for educational purposes before he goes under Rules. The unraced five-year-old son of Josr Algarhoud had a wind operation before he arrived, and is fairly weak and backward. It's taking a while for the penny to drop, but he is doing everything right to date.

Another five-year-old who takes everything in his stride is the 17.2 BOSCOVICH, owned by Tony Collins. "He jumps well and gives me the impression that he will be a stayer," Stuart commented, "although when he arrived he was so clumsy that he couldn't get out of his own way."

The third of the five-year-olds is a half-sister, by Bob Back, to Definitely It, who Stuart trained to win a Dingley Maiden last year. She is reported to be weak and green so will need time. Owned by Johnny Seth-Smith, she is unlikely to be out until later in the season.

GLEESON, who was in Sam Loggin's yard last year, has been purchased by owner-rider James Turcan. He won a Horseheath Maiden in 2009, but slipped up at Kingston Blount last season when seemingly set to win a Restricted. He needs good ground.

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