Kim Bailey and Olly Murphy welcome 'great innovation' as British racing begins schooling trials initiative
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Trainer Kim Bailey has hailed the launch of the schooling trials initiative as a "great innovation", with British trainers afforded further opportunities to prepare horses for the track.
Racecourse schooling days are commonplace in Ireland, but such opportunities have been limited in Britain, to the frustration of many trainers.
A working group co-ordinated by the Horse Welfare Board and supported by the Racing Foundation has launched the pilot to bring six schooling trials to Britain, which started at Larkhill point-to-point course in Wiltshire on Thursday.
Bailey, a winner of the Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle during a distinguished career, welcomed the initiative.
"The racecourse schooling days are a great innovation and very worthwhile, certainly for young horses who will be running in the spring," he said.
"It brings horses on, gets them in the horsebox and allows you to do something different with them. Getting them to gallop round a grass course in a different environment has got to be good news.
"We see plenty of Irish point-to-pointers coming to the sales who have been in schooling races. I know the schooling days we have had have been very popular."
The second day is set to take place at Chaddesley Corbett point-to-point course in Worcestershire on Wednesday before the four scheduled days at racecourses, at Musselburgh on February 20, Market Rasen on March 27, Ascot on March 31 and Newcastle on April 9.
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Trainer Olly Murphy, formerly assistant to Gordon Elliott, said: "They're a great initiative and I'll be taking horses to Chaddesley Corbett next week. They'll be a big benefit to British trainers, I've been saying it for years since I came back from Ireland. Well done to those who have put them on."
Scottish trainer Sandy Thomson voiced his approval of the initiative in Monday's Racing Post, describing the chance to have racecourse schooling as "really beneficial" for his horses, particularly the stores.
The trials, primarily aimed at jumps horses, allow a structured schooling opportunity for horses at all stages of their career to prepare them for racing.
The day at Chaddesley Corbett is scheduled to feature six to eight schooling trials, separated into a split of hurdle, chase and bumper trials, with owners encouraged to go along with the riders and trainers.
Further information can be attained by emailing schooling@racehorsewelfare.co.uk.
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