George Peckham hands in licence as main backer Nass focuses on Bahrain

Newmarket trainer George Peckham is to relinquish his licence following the decision of his main backer Fawzi Nass to reconsider his involvement in British racing.

A former assistant to Ed Dunlop, Peckham has trained for Nass since 2014, during which time he has been based at three sites in the town, including his current yard at Eve Lodge Stables on Hamilton Road.

As well as Eve Lodge, Bahrain businessman Nass, who is best known for owning top sprinter Krypton Factor, also owns Aislabie Stud at nearby Stetchworth. Nass himself trains in Bahrain, from where he is currently shipping horses to compete at the Dubai World Cup Carnival. He had a winner at Meydan on Saturday, at a non-carnival meeting.

Fawzi Nass: cutting back his interests in British racing

Peckham, whose wife Emma has recently given birth to their first child, has trained 22 winners, including the useful Inshiraah, who landed a hat-trick in 2017.

Peckham said: "Fawzi has reconsidered the viability of having his own training operation over here and the plan is to shut down Eve Lodge, although the stud will keep going. These things happen in life and we move on. I have a few options and hopefully I can stay in racing in some capacity."

As to the future of the horses currently at Eve Lodge, which was once owned by Lester Piggott, Peckham added: "Fawzi has around 18 horses of his own at the yard, many of whom will be flown out to Bahrain or Dubai in the coming weeks. The two-year-olds won't be going as the plan is to disperse them around a few trainers in Newmarket.

"We won't be having any more runners from Eve Lodge. I don't know whether Fawzi wants to rent it out or sell it as it's early days."

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