Leading trainer Evan Williams pleads not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm at Cardiff Crown Court

Leading trainer Evan Williams pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm when he appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday.

Williams, 54, is accused of assaulting Martin Dandridge at his stables in Llancarfan, on the edge of Cardiff, on December 4 last year. After a short hearing, Williams was bailed. He faces a trial at Cardiff Crown Court on March 3, 2026.

Williams has been the highest-ranking Welsh trainer in the British jumps championships for 11 consecutive seasons, and occupied 26th spot in the standings last campaign with 51 winners and more than £600,000 in prize-money.

The trainer sent out his first runner in 1999 and has won four Grade 1s, most recently with Silver Streak in the 2020 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. He has had two Cheltenham Festival winners, including with the popular Coole Cody in the 2022 Plate, and has been placed five times in the Grand National, going closest with Cappa Bleu, who finished runner-up to Auroras Encore in 2013.