Boyhood dream realised for Tom Ward as he saddles first runner on Wednesday

Lambourn's latest trainer saddles his first runner at Kempton on Wednesday night when Tom Ward, who has spent the last four years as assistant to Richard Hannon, realises a childhood dream.

Ward, who has a barn at Charlie Mann's yard but is in the process of building his own base next door, fields the former Jamie Osborne-trained Ricochet in a 6f handicap (8.55).

The 29-year-old has worked for Darley, Mark Johnston, Pat Chamings, spent time in France with Alain de Royer-Dupre and Francis Graffard while also gaining experience in the US with Kiaran McLaughlin.

He joined Hannon after a fruitful period for Godolphin and John O'Shea in Australia, and feels the time is right to get started on his own – some 17 years after first telling his parents he wanted to train.

"I think I was 12 at the time and they thought I was mad," he said. "I haven't changed my path since and have been lucky to work with some of the best trainers in the world.

"Charlie's got a 16-box barn, which I've taken and we've got ten horses on the books and eight in at the moment. I'm up at the sales now trying to buy some yearlings and fill the barn, but we're actually building a yard next door with 27 boxes that could become 47 quite quickly if we needed to.

"The plan is to build up gradually and the horses we've got are ones who can run over the winter to get us going, but I'm not in a rush to have lots of runners, rather just when the horses are ready. It's quite nice to have a small barn to get settled in and get things rolling."

Tom Ward (left) with his former boss Richard HannonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Explaining how he got into the sport and why he chose Lambourn, Ward added: "I had friends at school whose parents had horses so I used to go racing with them and got the bug then.

"My mother's involved in dressage, so I was always around horses growing up and rode three winners under rules in hunter chases, but I hope I'm a better trainer than jockey; I was a very amateur amateur, but it was great fun.

"Home is Newbury, so it's only up the road and I love Lambourn. As a training facility it's second to none and the Jockey Club Estates team have done a great job with the gallops.

"They've spent a lot of money and, unlike Newmarket, you can have your own space and take a bit of time and not worry about running into another trainer's string. We're lucky to have the space and time to do what we do."

Old Hannon ally Tom Marquand will be used in the saddle as much as possible and has been booked to ride Ricochet, who has claims according to the new trainer.

"I think he's got a good chance," he added. "He's never run in a handicap but he should be capable of winning off 67 on his early form, while his form around Kempton looks pretty solid.

"He worked well the other day. Tom [Marquand] came in and sat on him and was very pleased and said he'd have a good chance."

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