Trainers Fergal O'Brien and Graeme McPherson to join forces from October 1

Leading jumps trainer Fergal O'Brien is to join forces with fellow Gloucestershire operator Graeme McPherson from October 1, a move the pair believe can help take them to the big time.

O'Brien, who reached 50 winners for the season at Uttoxeter on Wednesday by beating McPherson's Zulu Dawn with Samba Dancer, leads the trainers' championship and hopes that everything will be finalised in time for the start of the core jumps season in October.

McPherson, whose yard is located 16 miles from O'Brien's base at Ravenswell Farm, explained how the new partnership came about when speaking to the Racing Post on Thursday after a hectic day informing staff and owners on Wednesday.

McPherson said: "It stemmed out of a conversation we had last year and we've been discussing it for a few months this year. Fergal and I, independently, are fiercely ambitious, we both want our yards to succeed and it seemed to us that we could, by going into partnership, take things to the next level and hopefully to the very top level.

"Fergal will have the traditional trainer role and my role will be to run the business efficiently so the owners get the best possible experience of having horses at O'Brien McPherson Racing. I will run the commercial side and let Fergal get on with doing what he does best, which is training horses and training winners."

Graeme McPherson: will be making sure 'owners get the best possible experience' at O'Brien McPherson RacingCredit: Dan Abraham

McPherson revealed the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive from owners and staff alike, adding: "Every owner I phoned yesterday was like, 'God. That's a surprise. I didn't see that coming.' Then we talked it through and it was like, 'What's the downside?' The answer to that is hopefully we don't believe there is a downside."

O'Brien, whose partner Sally Randell plays a key role in his business, was equally excited at the potential of the new alliance and said: "I'm over the moon. I've known Graeme for a long time from when he moved to the Cotswolds and from point-to-points. He's a good guy. Sally and I are very excited to be involved with him.

"We rented a barn off Graeme last October and it's just worked out well for us. Graeme will bring so much more to the party on the business side. It's a fantastic opportunity for us to expand the yard without having to invest in more stables and stuff at Ravenswell."

McPherson, also a lawyer, added: "Obviously there's been training partnerships in the past – father and son or husband and wife, things like that – but I think this is pretty revolutionary within racing to have yards combining to try to absolutely maximise what we're all hoping to achieve.

"October 1 is when we plan to to have everything combined by. There are still things to be signed and stuff like that, but we're well on track to kick things off from then."

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