'It's very good news' - Bickerstaffe arrival buoys over-excited Teal

Roger Teal, who spoke recently about the frustrations of not having his talents recognised by some of the sport's biggest movers and shakers, has been boosted by the arrival of classy handicapper Bickerstaffe.

Owned and bred by David and Emma Armstrong, Bickerstaffe won three times for Karl Burke last season and ended the campaign on a rating of 98.

He was recently transferred to Teal's Lambourn yard, from where the trainer has enjoyed Group 1 success with star sprinter Oxted.

Along with Bickerstaffe, a three-year-old by Invincible Spirit has joined the team.

"They bred Mayson, who is the sire of Oxted, and I've been fortunate enough to get a couple of horses for them," said Teal.

Roger Teal: 'We'll do our best and no-one likes taking horses off other trainers'

"Bickerstaffe, who won twice at Ascot last year, is a really nice horse. It's very good news for me and the yard, and something exciting to look forward to.

"Karl did a wonderful job with him and it's made my job harder because I've got to improve him or keep him as good as he is. He loves soft ground."

Teal, a capable member of the training ranks who enjoyed his best season last term, revealed that his enthusiastic celebrations at Wolverhampton on an ordinary autumn evening in November played a part in acquiring the horses.

"I had a horse called Never In Fourth win there and I always get a bit over-excited cheering my runners on," he said.

"Apparently I was being filmed jumping up and down for a £3,000 winner at Wolverhampton, and David said to a friend of his that if I could get that excited winning a race like that at Wolverhampton then I was the sort of trainer for him.

"I got a phone call off [bloodstock agent] Robin Sharp, who said he had an owner-breeder interested in sending me a horse. He asked what my fees were and then I spoke to David, who said I could have these two.

"The other is an unraced three-year-old by Invincible Spirit out of a good-quality mare. He obviously had a few problems and was quite heavy topped – he was very stocky and hard to train as he kept getting sore shins. He's like a bull, but has been gelded."

Teal felt sympathy for Burke, and went on: "I've not had to drive up to Karl's yard and pick the horse up; that's horrible and no trainer likes that.

"Karl did a great job with Bickerstaffe and is probably going, 'Come on then Tealy, improve that fella!'

"We'll do our best and no-one likes taking horses off other trainers, but it's part of the game and I learned that in my first season. I had an owner come to see me and he was moving his horses from his previous trainer [Mark Flower]. I was getting a couple and Jim Boyle was getting a few.

"I asked Jim if he was going to phone Mark, and he said, 'No, welcome to the world of racehorse training – it's brutal'."

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