Meet Our Trainers
We are doing awesome things at the moment, a lot of that is down to the tireless efforts from our huge team of trainers.
Alex Hales
Alex Hales Racehorse Trainer
Alex has been involved in racing since leaving school. Key positions held in formative years include being Head Lad to Charlie Mann, Assistant trainer to Kim Bailey and from 2000 - 2003 was private trainer for Mr Andrew Cohen.
In July 2003, Alex acquired his dual purpose training licence and since then has achieved much success with both flat and jump horses.
Alex learnt his craft from some distinguished teachers and his innovative nature ensures a very forward thinking approach to training racehorses. A combination of traditional methods with some new style approaches to the management and education of the horses in his charge, underpins the Trafford Bridge operation.
These methods and an individual approach to each horse, ensures that Alex gets the best out of the horses in his care.
Alex strongly believes that owning a racehorse, whether as a sole owner or as part of a syndicate or partnership, should be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. All owners are actively encouraged to enjoy the training programme in addition to the adrenalin rush experienced when their horse visits the racetrack!
Keeping his owners up to date on their horses trainingprogramme is an essential part of the customer service process.
Ivan Furtado
Ivan Furtado, former assistant to Roger Charlton, grew up herding cattle on his family ranch close to the Argentinean border, is “living the dream.”
“I never had plans to be a jockey but was always interested in training, even in those early days back home when I helped my granddad with his quarter horses.”
“I first came over to this country with the main aim of improving my English but was lucky enough to get a job with Jim Old, one of the top National Hunt trainers back then. Jim was really old school and taught me such a lot about the game in five enjoyable years.”
Furtado’s two years with Charlton proved just as valuable, however. “I was involved with some great horses at Beckhampton, and rode Group One winner Al Kazeem in most of his work. We had other stars like Cityscape and Time Test so it was an exciting period.”
Furtado then worked for former Newark trainer Alan McCabe before beginning training in his own right in 2015, and hasn’t looked back since.
John Jenkins
John has spent his life working with horses, he served his apprenticeship with G.R.Smyth before becoming a jump jockey. During his twelve year career as a jockey, he rode over one hundred winners.
Since receiving his trainer’s dual licence, John has trained winning horses for many different types of owner, the individual, groups, joint and corporate owners. His horses have won the Cesarewitch, Chester Cup and Doncaster Mile on the flat, and his jumpers have won the Triumph Hurdle, the Lanzarote Hurdle and the Tote Hurdle during his thirty plus year career.
Buying owning and racing horses is a highly specialist area and finding the right expert is vital.
With his years of experience who could argue the fact that he can recommend, select and purchase racehorses at auction or privately through his network of personal and professional contacts his success over the years speaks louder than words. The atmosphere within the yard is excellent with 100% commitment from staff.
Amy Murphy
It was in April 2013 that Amy came back to Britain, where she took up the position of Pupil Assistant to Luca Cumani, subsequently taking over the role of Assistant Trainer in January 2015, after Cumani’s son Matt moved to Australia. Amy’s time at Bedford House Stables coincided with the return of Gr.1 winners in the shape of Postponed, who Amy was work rider for, and Second Step, as well as a host of other Stakes winners and performers.
After 3 successful years working for Cumani, Amy’s appetite for racing only grew stronger. Gaining her training licence in August 2016, means that Amy is one of the countries youngest trainers. This being said, her weighty experience and enthusiasm means that she is also one of the most passionate. A firm grounding, high attention to detail and work ethic, means the full potential of every horse will be realised.
Amy is well placed to become a successful trainer having already been an owner and also an amateur jockey.