Henry Cecil Back On Track

Henry Cecil is one of the punters favourite horse trainers – born the step-son of former champion trainer Sir Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, he learned as his assistant from 1964 to 1968, before taking out his own licence in 1969. He has trained great horses such as Wollow, Reference Point, Diminuendo, Michelozzo and Oh So Sharp who completed the fillies Triple Crown.

He has one of the most prolific racing stables in England, Warren Place; which he has run since 1976, when he took over from Sir Noel Murless; has trained more than 350 group winners, has been Champion Trainer ten times, won 35 classic races in the United Kingdom and abroad including the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas, 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes. His amazing abilities and almost unfailing success throughout the 80s and 90s earned him legions of fans amongst racegoers and punters.

2005 saw Cecil reach his lowest point professionally – he finished 97th in the trainers championship, something that would have seemed impossible just a decade before, there were just fifty horses in his yard and he was then diagnosed with stomach cancer.

Now though things seem to be on the upturn – while he is still receiving cancer treatment, he has got the force of Bullet Train behind him. The horse is a 10-1 chance for the Derby, a live each-way contender in an open year rather than a hot favourite like Reference Point of Slip Anchor in 1985 and 1987.

Jockey Tom Queally who is to ride Bullet Train at the Derby summed up many people’s feelings when he said; ‘It’s fantastic for Henry that he’s come right back up through the ranks and back to where he belongs. He’s a genius, it’s like he’s at one with the horses, he knows them inside out and upside down.’ Other jockeys to have ridden for Cecil include Lestor Piggott, Joe Mercer, Kieren Fallon, Pat Eddery and Steve Cauthen.

He is most definitely the working class hero, who has kept his head held high through his ups and downs, and it is obvious that the punters will be keeping their fingers crossed for him. As Pat Eddery, who himself is now a trainer said: ‘He’s an amazing human being really…I’m so happy for him now that he’s training good horses again.. he’s always been a great trainer.’