Trainer of the Year

The lavish ceremony at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London will make a change for Britain and Ireland’s jump trainers, who usually spend December mornings on the chilly gallops.

Over jumps, training greats Fred Winter, Fulke Walwyn, Ginger McCain and Gordon Richards are among the first winners of the coveted prize.

In 1979, Peter Easterby became the first to successfully defend the prize, and the man best known for the success of Sea Pigeon would make it three at the start of the new decade. Martin Pipe took the honour for the first time in 1988, a prize he would win seven times.

Only fellow West Country trainer Paul Nicholls would match his tally with a latest success coming in 2019. After Irish trainers dominate for three years the prize – like many in jump racing – the award went to Scotland in 2023 as Lucinda Russell scooped it in her second Grand National-winning year.

Racing legend Sir Noel Murless was a worthy first recipient of the Flat Trainer of the Year, months on from Royal Palace’s success in the Derby, and three years later Vincent O’Brien became one of the most famous winners, as the only ever to be recognised in the category for training a Triple Crown winner.

Nijinsky’s trainer is a double-champion of the prize but no trainer has won it more times than the legendary Sir Henry Cecil. His first success came in 1976 and 36 years later, thanks to the talents of Frankel, he scooped the title for an eighth time.

The Trainer of the Year award, merging Flat and Jumps, returned in 2024 with Willie Mullins winning it after conquering the British and Irish championships and winning the Grand National, Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle.  

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