Trainers to keep an eye on in 2025
Horse racing is more than a hobby – it’s a way of life. The best trainers have shown their talent and dedication to the sport in terms of the sheer time they’ve devoted to it, as well as, of course, their wins. In the UK, horse racing is alive and well! We have been blessed with an abundance of racing talent, with expert trainers in both flat racing and jump racing. Let’s take a look at the best of the best!
Flat trainers
The first kind of horse trainer we’ll explore in this article is flat racing. Flat racing tests the skill, stamina and speed of both jockey and horse as they ride anywhere from 5f to 2 miles. In the UK, most flat races take place on grass, but they can also be run on all-weather or synthetic surfaces. As you might expect, these different surfaces affect horse speed and stamina differently, even if only by a small bit. This adds another layer of knowledge that top trainers must have in order to secure wins.
With that in mind, let’s look at some of the best trainers in flat racing! According to Great British Racing’s Trainers’ Championships (with the flat-training-specific championship running from 1st January to 31st December 2024), the top three are:
· Andrew Balding
· Tony Carroll
· K. R. Burke
Andrew Balding
A licensed Kingsclere trainer since 2003, Andrew Balding has horse racing in his blood. His father was another successful trainer! In fact, he was the Kingsclere trainer until his son succeeded him. According to the Trainers’ Championship, Andrew is the top trainer in the UK with 17 wins, 49 places and 84 runs in the last 12 months.
Tony Carroll
Training with Mill House Racing, Tony Carroll needs no introduction. The ex-jockey has been in the sport for more than 24 years, and, according to Great British Racing, is the number two flat trainer in the country. He has 31 wins, 92 places and 191 runs during the same 12-month championship period mentioned above.
K. R. Burke
K. R. Burke is one of the most respected trainers at Spigot Lodge. With more than 30 years in the industry, it’s fair to say that few people have as much knowledge as he does. Great British Racing places Burke as the third trainer in the country with 14 wins, 17 runs and 50 runs in the Trainers’ Championship.
Jump trainers
As the name implies, jump racing involves runs that include obstacles. Horse and jockey must jump over these hurdles/fences safely in order to win. Jump racing is sometimes considered the more exciting form of horse racing, and we can’t deny that it has plenty of appeal. It is always a fan favourite to bet on Cheltenham with BetMGM, and it’s no surprise why. The heart-pounding jumps are just too enticing to overlook!
Jump trainers have a different skillset from flat trainers. Jump races take place over distances anywhere from two to four-and-a-half miles.
According to Great British Racing’s Trainers’ Championship, the top three jump trainers in the UK are:
· Dan Skelton
· Paul Nicholls
· Nicky Henderson
The jump training competition runs from 4th May 2024 to 26th April 2025, and the following rankings are not finalised. Consider them to-date rankings that give jump racing fans an insight into the talent that the sport has to offer.
Dan Skelton
Founder of the Dan Skelton Racing stables, established in 2013, Dan Skelton has decades of experience in the industry. His family-run stables are a testament to the trainer’s knowledge and dedication to the industry. According to Great British Racing, Skelton is the top-ranked jump trainer in the industry with 149 wins, 366 places and 779 runs.
Paul Nicholls
Paul Nicholls is a name that’s familiar to any jump racing fan. He has been named Champion Trainer in National Hunt racing 14 times! He started his career in 1991 with a modest eight horses and today is ranked second in the sport. According to Great British Racing, Nicholls has 73 wins, 197 places and 394 runs.
Nicky Henderson
Associated with Middleham Park Racing, Nicky Henderson has been in the sport since 1978. He has been crowned Champion Trainer six times to date and is currently ranked number three in the UK with 58 wins, 114 places and 287 runs. Henderson is currently out for Cheltenham Festival redemption.
Are you tuning in to horse racing in 2025? Keep an eye on the trainers we’ve highlighted in this article! They are, without a doubt, some of the best in the country.