The Jumping Game: How National Hunt Trainers Work and What Makes Them Tick

Description

As the woman who trained the great Best Mate to win three consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cups, no one could be better qualified than Henrietta Knight to discover what makes today's top jumps trainers succeed. From eccentric, outspoken Yorkshireman Mick Easterby, to elegant, aristocratic Venetia Williams, from Irish wizard, Willie Mullins, to perfectionist champion trainer, Paul Nicholls and young pretender, Dan Skelton, here is a dazzling cast of extraordinary characters, all with their quirks and foibles, but with one single-minded ambition - finding first-class horses and training them to win big races. Henrietta shares their dramatic journeys, methods and secrets of working in a tough, competitive industry. For the trainers, every win reignites the thrill of the sport and a craving for success that never dies. Their stories are fascinating, each one illustrated with unique photographs from private albums.

Henrietta Knight lives in West Lockinge, where she trained the great racehourse, Best Mate with her late husband Terry Biddlecome. She is the author of three bestselling books, Best Mate: Chasing Gold, Best Mate: Triple Gold and Not Enough Time - a memoir of her time with Terry.

'A dazzling cast of extraordinary characters' Countryside. 'It's not for nothing that she has been a trainer for more than 20 years: she has plenty of experience, and her voice and opinions come over loud and clear' Spectator. 'Fascinating reading' Irish Independent. '[Henrietta Knight] is the perfect guide ... Essentially, this is a study of success ... For Knight, too, it is another fine achievement' Racing Post. 'A fascinating treatise' Spectator. 'This timely book should enlighten and entertain not only the racing cognoscenti, but anyone who has ever had anything to do with a horse' Country Life.