'I'm not big on watching races, but I looked up, lit a cigarette and enjoyed it'
The trainer on his remarkable run in the Irish 2,000 Guineas 25 years ago
Some trainers have to wait forever and a day to unearth their horse of a lifetime, but Peter Chapple-Hyam did not have to hold out long to greet the plethora of star performers who would ignite his career.
In one of the most phenomenal beginnings to any training vocation, the then 28-year-old took over from Barry Hills at Robert Sangster's Manton estate in 1991 and sent out two Group 1 winners in his first season, Dr Devious and Rodrigo De Triano.
The former would go on to land the following season's Derby and Irish Champion Stakes, while the latter ended the campaign as European champion three-year-old colt, sparked by landing the Newmarket-Curragh Guineas double.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inInterviews
Last updated
Copy- 'I've still got the fire in me' - why it will take more than a brush with death to stop Nicky Richards
- 'He's a fantastic horse and it's easy to train good ones like that - he's the best I've had'
- 'Racing has always been in my life' - Olympics heroine Sam Quek opens up on her love of racing, joining the ITV team and unexpected abuse
- 'I feel guilty because I've already had one go' - meet the owner chasing a second Grand National 42 years after his first
- 'I grew up with the Grand National - now it would be incredible to win it' - the training pair behind Britain's number one hope
- 'I've still got the fire in me' - why it will take more than a brush with death to stop Nicky Richards
- 'He's a fantastic horse and it's easy to train good ones like that - he's the best I've had'
- 'Racing has always been in my life' - Olympics heroine Sam Quek opens up on her love of racing, joining the ITV team and unexpected abuse
- 'I feel guilty because I've already had one go' - meet the owner chasing a second Grand National 42 years after his first
- 'I grew up with the Grand National - now it would be incredible to win it' - the training pair behind Britain's number one hope