Fergal O'Brien adds second yard to expand his thriving training operation

Fergal O'Brien is keeping his "feet firmly on the ground" about future training ambitions following his acquisition of a second yard for his string of horses after a successful start to the season.

The trainer moved to his Ravenswell Farm yard near Cheltenham in November 2019 but after an excellent start to the campaign yielding 57 winners, he has taken on an additional stable close to his main base to cope with the extra horses joining his operation.

O'Brien is on course to surpass last season's tally of 63 winners and while there are no current lofty ambitions, he praised his staff in keeping the ever-improving operation running smoothly.

"It's important we keep our feet firmly on the ground. What we don't want to do is go boom and bust," he said.

Fergal O'Brien trainer statistics

"I'm very lucky to have great people around me, I'm a small cog in a very big wheel. The staff are amazing and we want to go out there week in week out knowing that our horses are running well. Consistency is key."

Some horses have already made the switch to the new 30-box yard and while O'Brien anticipates not all of them will be filled, he is thrilled to have added an extra location.

"It's great to have. Things have gone a bit bonkers recently," he said. "We're very fortunate to be in this position and it gives us a trial for six months as a view of whether to expand Ravenswell Farm.

"We have a few horses there, but we're waiting at the minute with the others. Once the BHA gives us a licence for the yard, they should be out two weeks after that."

One horse who could move to the new stable is the popular veteran Perfect Candidate, who rolled back the years for successive victories in the staying handicap chase on Betfair Chase day at the age of 13.

Perfect Candidate: won on Haydock's Betfair Chase card last weekend at the age of 13Credit: Mike Egerton (Getty Images)

O'Brien added: "We might take him there because a change might spark him up again. There aren't any firm plans, but I need to speak to Geoff and Donna Keys [owners] about that.

"It's testament to our facilities that we can train horses like him. He's a warrior and has been with us since he was four. I've been at three different yards and he's won at every one. I owe him an awful lot."

O'Brien has enjoyed a rapid rise through the ranks since taking out his licence in 2011 and is third in the trainers' championship following his blistering early-season form.

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