From Morston to Mine: James Bethell, 46 years a trainer, to hand over to son Ed

James Bethell, who started out as a teenager with Bruce Hobbs and was assistant to Arthur Budgett when Morston won the 1973 Derby, is bringing his training career to an end after 46 years.

Bethell's son Ed is set to take over the licence from January 1 at Thorngill Stables in Middleham, from where his father trained Mine to win three Bunbury Cups.

"I think younger people can work with all the technology and modern communications better than us older folk and I thought it was a good time to do it," said Bethell, 68.

James Bethell (right) welcomes then Conservative leader William Hague and his wife Ffion with jockey Jason Weaver to Middleham Open Day in 1998Credit: Alec Russell

"Edward has had a good grounding, he's been to Gai Waterhouse in Australia, he did a stint in America, he's had spells with Charlie Hills and with Robert Cowell, and he's been assistant here. He's on the ball and ready to take up the challenge.

"I'm still going to stay in the background – instead of him criticising me, I can criticise him! We did look at becoming joint trainers but I think it's better to have it in his name so he gets all the credit if there's credit to be had. It should work, we get on very well together and he can come to me for advice."

Ed Bethell will start with "around 30" horses next year, including Nunthorpe third Moss Gill who could head to Dubai for the carnival.

Moss Gill: likely to head to Dubai before a Group 1 sprint campaignCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"I'm really looking forward to it," he said. "I've wanted to train all my life, despite Dad's best efforts to put me off! It's daunting, especially with what's going in the world. But as someone said the other day there's never a right time to start training racehorses, it's an uncertain business.

"I'm fortunate to be training Moss Gill next year. There's talk of him going to Dubai for the start of the year, then he'll be aimed at the Group 1s and I hope he'll pop up in one."

Ed Bethell: 'There's never a right time to start training racehorses, it's an uncertain business'Credit: Ed Bethell

James Bethell took over from Budgett at the age of 23 and won the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot with Celtic Pleasure in 1977.

His biggest earner since he moved to Middleham in 1992 has been Mine and the trainer said: "He gave us some fantastic days. He loved fast-run races and won three Bunbury Cups, a Victoria Cup and a Royal Hunt Cup – that's not a bad CV, is it?

Mine wins the Bunbury Cup for the third time under Mick Kinane in 2006Credit: Mark Cranham

"He was a most rewarding horse to train as we kept him going until he was eight. It was really nice this year that Mr Dawson, who owned him, has come back into the yard and had a decent filly in Dawaaween.

"I had also had the lovely Rich Ground, an 8,400gns yearling who won the July Stakes and was fourth in the Prix Morny, and Hunters Of Brora, who won the Lincoln."

Bethell, who chairs the Middleham Trainers Association, reflected: "I've enjoyed it but some years were more frustrating than others and I've found the more relaxed you are, the more things happen. When you get uptight nothing seems to work!"

JAMES BETHELL CV

Full name James David William Bethell

Born February 22, 1952

Father David Bethell, 5th Baron Westbury (Jockey Club member)

Assistant to Bruce Hobbs, Arthur Budgett

First winner Baffin Bay, Bath, April 28, 1975

Group winners Rich Ground (1996 July Stakes), Strawberry Dale (2006 Middleton Stakes)

Royal Ascot winners Celtic Pleasure (1977 King George V Handicap), Mine (2004 Royal Hunt Cup)

Triple Bunbury Cup winner Mine (2002, 2005, 2006)

Other big-handicap winners Daring March (1977 Northumberland Sprint Trophy), Celtic Pleasure (1978 Rosebery Handicap), Abercata (1978 Zetland Gold Cup), Maryland Cookie (1981 Bovis Handicap), Gay Captain (1986 Silver Seal Handicap), Hunters Of Brora (1998 Lincoln Handicap), Mine (2004 Victoria Cup)

Other notable winners Daring March (1978 Criterion Stakes), Domynga (1985 Bahrain Trophy), Strawberry Dale (2005 Gillies Fillies' Stakes), Mine (2007 John of Gaunt Stakes), Moss Gill (2020 City Walls Stakes)

Most wins in a season 25 in 1977
Compiled by John Randall

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Harry Eustace to take over licence at Newmarket yard as father James steps down

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