'I used to be in the Premier League' - in-form jumps trainer on bouncing back

Trainer Milton Harris believes he is getting back to where he belongs after making major progress at the start of his third full jumps season since returning from an enforced seven-year hiatus.

Harris, who sent out 11 winners in October following on from six in September, and was again on the scoresheet following a double at Plumpton on Monday, has steadily built up his dual-purpose Wiltshire stable, having successfully regained his licence almost three years ago.

The BHA had previously rejected his applications on the grounds he was not a fit and proper person after his first spell as a trainer ended in bankruptcy in the summer of 2011, which was attributed to the recession and fall in property prices.

After a turbulent time, the 62-year-old has his yard, predominantly made up of jumpers, in excellent form as he attempts to return to the level he operated at previously.

"I was in seventh place in the trainers' championship, albeit it was early in the season, when things went wrong for me and the season before I think I finished near the top 20," he said.

"Before my mishap, I'd got myself to the bottom of the Premier League, so to speak. I don't know where I'd be now and it has taken a while to build it back, but we've got a good team of horses and a very good team of young people, who must get a lot of credit.

"You have to have the confidence of the owners and one of the most satisfying things has been my peers have been very welcoming, the likes of Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton."

In his first spell between 2001 and 2011, Harris saddled 155 jumps winners and 17 on the Flat with his biggest victories coming courtesy of Grade 2-winning juvenile Mondul, the enigmatic Chaninbar, who won the 2010 Red Rum Chase at the Grand National meeting, and staying chaser Herecomestanley.

Having started up again at Jeremy Gask's former base at Sutton Veny near Warminster, Harris has increased his team from an initial eight to 50 and the search is on for some quality to tackle the bigger races.

"We could always train, that was never the problem," said Harris. "We need a flagship horse now, we've got one or two nice horses that just might help this season.

"We've got great owners with limited budgets, so I suppose it would be nice to attract one or two of the traditionally larger owners."

Milton Harris overseeing his string at his base at Sutton VenyCredit: Nick Grimstead

An interesting new recruit to the yard is Ladbrokes Trophy entry Danny Whizzbang, winner of a Grade 2 novice chase at Newbury in 2019 for Nicholls.

"I always had a good relationship with Paul Nicholls and bought many horses off him, including Chaninbar and Pilgrims Lane. Sometimes they need a change of scenery and I hope that's the case with Danny Whizzbang.

"I put him in at Newbury as he went off at 14-1 in the race last year. He's fitted well into our regime and looks in a good place. It's an entry at this stage and I'd like to get a prep run into him first, but he doesn't need to have it as he'd run well fresh."

Genuflex, a 20,000gns purchase from the sales in July, epitomised the trainer's approach when building on a Sedgefield maiden hurdle win to finish second to Triumph Hurdle favourite Porticello in the Listed Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle at Wetherby on Friday.

"I made my name with juveniles a few years ago and we've got a few of them including Genuflex, who's no superstar but is solid and stays well," said Harris.

"We've got a nice bumper horse called Knowwhentoholdem, who won at Newton Abbot and might join Pyramid Place in going to Cheltenham's next meeting.

"It's coming together – I've just bought five or six at the sales – and we're trying to grow all the time."

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