Brookhouse 'can't wait to get going' as he sets up training base in Newmarket

Ben Brookhouse, son of well-known jumps owner-breeder Roger Brookhouse, is on the verge of joining the training ranks after taking over the lease at James Ferguson's former base at Saville House Stables on the Exeter Road in Newmarket.

The majority of Brookhouse's initial team will be jumpers, and he will be realising a long-held ambition when his licence is finally rubber-stamped.

At 29, Brookhouse will be youngest trainer in Newmarket and starts with 17 horses, most owned by his father, but he is looking to expand.

Ben Brookhouse shows off his newly branded jacket

He said: “We’ve been here nearly a month and all we’re known for is the string with the nice branded jackets!

"Training is a dream that has been a long time in the planning. I did my first training module alongside Dan Skelton and Charlie Appleby, which shows you how long ago I first had it in mind.

"I think it was Henry de Bromhead who convinced Dad that Newmarket was the place for jumpers as you can do anything you want to do with them here and when you want to do it. The facilities are fantastic.”

A former permit-holder, Roger Brookhouse has enjoyed much success over jumps and has celebrated three Cheltenham Festival victories, most recently with Summerville Boy in the 2018 Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

His son started out at the bottom when mucking out for trainer Ian Williams at 16 before spending some years in Ireland.

Brookhouse said: “As I always wanted to train a lot of people recommended working for Jim Bolger, which I was a bit apprehensive about as I had heard it was very hard work. Someone told me I wouldn’t last a day but I made sure I did and I stayed there for over three years.

“In 2016 I sent my CV to nearly every trainer in Newmarket looking for a job as pupil assistant. For those who didn’t reply I put a copy of my CV through their door. One emailed back to say 'you’re a persistent little **** aren’t you'”

His persistence paid off when Hugo Palmer offered him a job and he was also assistant trainer for Williams.

He said of his team: “We’ve mainly jumpers including a hunter chaser, a dual-purpose horse, two three year-olds to go hurdling and five or six bumper horses as well as three yearlings. I can’t wait to actually get going.”

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