Family ties: Paul and Oliver Cole to join forces when racing returns

Paul Cole, who won the 1991 Derby with Generous, will be among the first trainers to take advantage of a joint-licence when teaming up with his son Oliver once racing resumes in Britain.

The BHA began work on introducing dual licences last year and they are common in other racing jurisdictions, particularly in Australia.

Cole, who has been training at his Whatcombe base near Lambourn since 1987, believes the time is right to share responsibilities with Oliver, who has been his assistant trainer.

"Oliver has got a lot of young owners who are coming in and I've got my old ones who still want me to train, so it would be stupid for us to have two different yards – it doesn't make sense," said Cole, who was crowned champion trainer in Britain in 1991.

"It'll work with new people coming in who want to see him train and then I've got my people who want me to carry on and train. It's much the same as it has been for the last five years anyway.

Generous: winner of the 1991 Epsom DerbyCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"One bloke is coming to the end of his career and one is starting, but there's lots of mileage left in me for a start. I don't want to give up while I've got such a wonderful place and plenty of horses to train.

"It was a good move by the BHA to introduce dual licences and it's not uncommon as other countries do it. It suits everybody and won't make any difference to how the horses run."

For Oliver Cole, who rode against Ryan Moore as an amateur jockey, taking out a joint-licence feels like a natural progression.

"I think it'll be a good move and a different dynamic," he said. "I was born into racing and was here when Dad was champion trainer. I've seen everything and it's almost like second nature to me."

The pair have a lot of horses to look forward to this season, including Duke Of Hazzard, who completed his hat-trick last August when beating Turgenev in the Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

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