Scott handed big early wedding present from future father-in-law

Bill Gredley is shortly to embark on an ambitious new stable project that it is hoped will propel his future son-in-law George Scott into the premier league of Newmarket trainers – and perhaps even one day to championship honours.

In the biggest new-site development of its kind in the town for a decade, Gredley plans to build a 130-box yard at Fitzroy Paddocks, a disused six-acre area adjacent to Michael Bell's stable at Fitzroy House.

The proposed yard is something of a massive early wedding present for the up-and-coming Scott, a former assistant to Lady Cecil who is to marry Gredley's daughter Polly in September.

Together with the neighbouring Queensbury Lodge site, Fitzroy Paddocks was part of an earlier planning application by Gredley's Unex group which included an Asda supermarket, but that was turned down a few years ago.

Scott, who started training in November 2015, is currently at the 50-box Saffron House Stables on nearby Hamilton Road, from where he has sent out 14 winners this season.

George Scott: 'I'm incredibly grateful and excited to be given this opportunity'Credit: Edward Whitaker

None of those has carried the Gredley colours but juvenile James Garfield did finish third in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes in the famous yellow silks at Royal Ascot last month.

Gredley said: "George is a good up-and-coming young trainer and we want to give him every chance of making a big success of his career.

"We've already set the wheels in motion for the new yard, which we hope to have finished by the end of 2018. The paddocks were used as a collecting ring for Fitzroy Stables at one time but have been disused for a long time after previous plans fell through.

"This project will hopefully give everybody a boost and its location means George can access both sides of Newmarket if he so desires."

Scott, who four years ago was headhunted from California to fill the role as understudy at Warren Place, will be coming back to his roots as he was previously a pupil assistant to Bell at Fitzroy House.

Scott said: "I'm incredibly grateful and excited to be given this opportunity to train from a new yard, but the hard work starts now as we want to have as many winners as possible so we get the horses to fill it.

"Bill has been very kind and his son Tim has been a great friend for many years. Also, I can't wait to marry Polly in September, so there are busy times ahead."

He added: "There's a lot of work to do but the ambition is one day to become champion trainer. Hopefully this new base will prove the launchpad we need."

The Queen with the Gold Cup-winning team of owner Bill Gredley, jockey James Doyle, Tim Gredley and trainer Michael BellCredit: Caroline Norris