'It came as a shock' - Nick Mitchell loses private training job after split

Nick Mitchell, who enjoyed top-level success with popular chaser The Listener, is on the hunt for a new opportunity after his association with owner Syd Hosie, who had employed him as a private trainer since October, was terminated.

Mitchell started training in 2008 and saddled The Listener to victory in Down Royal's Grade 1 Champion Chase the following year, but drew a line under his Dorset operation at the end of the 2018-19 jumps season.

He explored working for the BHA and National Trainers Federation but the Covid-19 pandemic halted the potential of long-term roles, so he welcomed the chance to train for Hosie under the banner of his drainage company Sherborne Utilities.

Mitchell saddled seven winners during his return to the training ranks, which proved short-lived for now as Hosie has pulled the plug on the partnership.

Lieutenant Rocco: injured before the Cheltenham festivalCredit: Edward Whitaker

"It did come as a bit of a shock," said Mitchell. "Syd was my employer and we started as a private yard and then sped up through to having other owners.

"Things were going well and we had a great start and first season with some good winners and really good runs in defeat as well, but Syd is a businessman and said financially it wasn't viable at this stage.

"He did cite the prize-money situation in this country, as well as losses running into the hundreds, which could be coped with, into the thousands.

"We were growing quickly and he decided that having a licensed trainer there wasn't working. I understand his decision and I had a great time. I was never going to come back training, but the opportunity was there and I took it with both hands and had a fantastic time, but I've got to move on again."

The Racing Post has attempted to contact Hosie, who had 17 runners with Mitchell last season, including the promising Lieutenant Rocco, a buzz horse for the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival until injury intervened.

It is believed Hosie, who also has horses with Mark Gillard, will continue his participation in the sport, albeit in a more traditional owner-trainer model.

Mitchell, whose father Richard also trains in Dorset, added: "Whether Syd continues with the yard I don't know, but we had two great gallops and I walked into a ready-made proper racing yard. It took us a few months to get used to the gallops as they were brand new and no-one had trained there before.

"Lieutenant Rocco allowed us to dream for a while and he was the cherry on top, but there were a lot of nice youngsters there, the babies we were bringing through, and we did well with other horses we got.

"Mystic Court really turned around, while we got Coup De Pinceau off Paul [Nicholls] and won a race with him. I think we were proving ourselves and I was surprised, but I wish the horses well."

As for the future, the 51-year-old went on: "I'm open to anything and have made a few inquiries to people I've spoken to in the past. I want to stay in racing. I have got the training bug back, but I'm not going to do it myself and those [private trainer] jobs are very rare. I'd consider anything.

"With the experience I have under my belt, I feel I've plenty to give."

Read more:

Grade 1-winning trainer Mitchell back in business after more than a year out

Leading Ultima hope Lieutenant Rocco ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival

'He's a horse for the future - it's exciting to have one like him'

Trump Lady gives Grade 1-winning trainer Nick Mitchell first win since return

'It's hard now' - Lambourn's second-longest serving trainer quits after 41 years

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