'The worst I've ever known' - Gary Moore laments current jumps season

Gary Moore has called this jumps season the worst he has known since he took out his licence in 1993.

While results on the track have been promising, with Goshen and Botox Has scooping valuable races, he says the unseasonably dry weather and recent bitter temperatures have led to an incredibly challenging few months.

"This has been the worst season I've ever known for training jumps horses," he said. "If it isn't quick ground you've got too much sun on the hurdles and fences, so they're omitted, and then you've got these mass cancellations of meetings due to the freezing temperatures. It's bonkers and never-ending.

"It's difficult to navigate as a team because the horses are ready to run and we've been in limbo this week. We can't back off them because there's always a chance racing might be on, even if realistically we think it won't be. We just have to keep our fingers crossed things thaw out.

"Then the races aren't there when you want them. There aren't going to be small novice hurdles around for young horses as everyone is going to run in them. Who would be a jumps trainer?"

Moore, who is based in Lower Beeding in West Sussex, has unearthed two smart prospects in Authorised Speed and Givega in recent months. Both began their seasons at Lingfield and the trainer believes the Surrey track has been the only course to provide genuine soft ground.

Authorised Speed: one of two smart prospects to make his reappearance at LingfieldCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"The ground has been the main factor," he said. "The only two meetings that have had proper soft ground this season were at Lingfield. We just haven't had much rain. Since when do courses water in November? I've never known anything like it before."

The trainer has plenty to look forward to when the weather begins to relent and he is hoping forecast rising temperatures mean he will soon be able to take the wraps off an array of festive chances.

Goshen and Botox Has will tackle the rescheduled Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day, while Authorised Speed and Givega have Grade 1 options.

He said: "Authorised Speed is being aimed at the Tolworth Hurdle, while Givega has two options. He could run in a novice hurdle at Fontwell on Boxing Day or the Challow on New Year's Eve."

The trainer isn't far off unleashing another top-class prospect, with French import Bo Zenith set to join his more established stablemates at Kempton.

He was last seen beating impressive Cork winner Blood Destiny at Auteuil in April and is already a best-priced 20-1 for the Triumph Hurdle in March.

Read more from Gary Moore in our Christmas Stable Tours feature, also including Paul Nicholls, Dan Skelton, Fergal O’Brien and David Pipe

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