A card-carrying Yorkshireman with a feel for the wider world

Alastair Down meets the trainer in flying form

William Haggas in action at Newmarket on Saturday: the local trainer is in blistering form

William Haggas, now in his 29th season as a trainer, is one of those rare individuals who has risen far above the advantages of his background.

When he first appeared as a bright(ish) young thing he was irritatingly bumptious and rather pleased with himself. Most young people of talent are like that, but as I said to him last week: “I thought you were one of those idiots who would never leave school.”

He laughs and says: “I spent far too long enjoying myself and when I went to Sir Mark [Prescott] as assistant it was a long-overdue wake-up call.

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Published on 20 September 2016inFeatures

Last updated 09:33, 21 September 2016

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