'Covid was a big challenge' - fledgling trainer Oliver Signy keen to make mark

Lambourn trainer Oliver Signy is aiming to profit from the inaugural National Racehorse Week after Covid-19 stalled his burgeoning career.

Signy began training in November 2019, but any hopes of establishing himself as a familiar name in the sport were held up by the coronavirus pandemic the following spring.

Based at The Croft – from where the late John Hills and Seamus Durack once operated – Signy welcomed around 70 members of the public to his yard on Wednesday and hopes it can help kick-start his business.

Spread the word and let's all make sure National Racehorse Week is here to stay

"It was nice to have people at the yard," he said. "Trying to start the business and make a name for ourselves in the pandemic was a big, big challenge.

"You couldn't have syndicates and people coming to pat the horses or go on the gallops, so it was a hard sell, especially if people didn't know us.

"We've had a bit of interest since and National Racehorse Week is a great initiative in its own right, but hopefully helps us as well because a few people said they'd be interested and others came because they hadn't heard about us; so it's good to see people, which, of course, you couldn't do during lockdown."

Signy, who celebrated the birth of his first child Thea last month with his wife Katherine, was speaking on Sunday when he entertained another 50 or so people at his owners' day.

"I hope to have around 20 for the season," he added. "We're licensed to have 31 horses and we'd aim for more and build extra stables if need be, but I feel we're growing nicely."

Signy, who learned the ropes working for Oliver Sherwood, Jonathan Sheppard and Jamie Snowden, hopes to unearth a flagship horse in the next few months, and said: " won well at Fontwell in March. He will run in a handicap hurdle first but could be smart over fences.

"We've just gelded a really nice juvenile called and I'm dreaming we can aim him at the Cheltenham Festival, and there's also , a point-to-point winner who was our most expensive purchase [£140,000].

" is a promising youngster, as is , who is coming back from injury, while I think , a lovely big type, could be a Ladbrokes Trophy/Grand National horse in a few years.

"They are all very nice horses and are stepping up a level, but they should be able to do something. I'd love to get a couple of them to Cheltenham and increase the number of winners we had last season.

"As soon as we get some Saturday runners out and about it'll help get our name out."

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