Meet the Lambourn trainer 'devoid of any natural talent' who is back in business

Gary Brown, among racing's most colourful characters, does not anticipate his first winner since 2014 threatening big guns Paul Nicholls or Nicky Henderson, but he hopes his small operation can help launch the career of wannabe jump jockey Izzi Ryder.

Brown, whose career in the saddle was cut short in 1995 following a first-fence fall at Uttoxeter that split his spleen and pancreas, started training in 1999 but retired in 2014 having leased yards from longtime ally Sir Anthony McCoy and Henrietta Knight.

The former rider was, however, lured back after the coronavirus lockdown two years ago and, after a spell at Geoffrey Deacon's stables near Newbury, is now renting a handful of boxes from Sir Mark Todd, who is based at Badgerstown in Wiltshire.

It was from there Alioski struck in a maiden hurdle at Worcester recently.

"I've been here a month, and Alioski was our first runner," he said. "I cycled halfway round the world when I retired, but I'm good friends with Gary Moore and was cycling around Sussex during lockdown. He then got me riding out and I thought, 'Sod it, I'll get back into it'."

'McCoy likes her'

Brown, who once said McCoy "questioned my work ethic, attitude, and also told me I was devoid of any natural talent", jokes he lacks ambition, but that is not the case when it comes to his 20-year-old protege Ryder.

"This is all I want," he added. "All joking aside, this is nice and I've got Izzi here with me. We have eight in and it's manageable between us.

"Izzi was on the Nations Cup showjumping team representing Britain and rode on the Flat at Newbury the other day.

"She rides Alioski and is a great kid who is improving dramatically. She's ridden on the Flat but her strengths are jumping; she's very accurate and McCoy likes her. He's schooled a lot with her and he's given her a few lessons. He's really good with her."

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