TRAINER TALK: JUSTIN BROTHERTON
- jakeexelby
- Nov 4
- 8 min read
In the past two seasons, Justin Brotherton has proved that he is a trainer to watch, with multiple successes from the likes of Horizon D’Ainay and Kayf Hernando. The 39-year-old, son of former rules trainer Roy, rents stable space at David Bridgwater’s Wyck Hill Farm yard, near Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire and has high hopes for the coming season. Jake Exelby paid him a visit in advance of the new campaign to watch some of his string work and school and to find out about his background in the sport, plans for his horses, and his views on point-to-pointing as it strives to attract a new, younger audience.
On arrival, I am greeted by Justin and today’s work riders, point-to-point jockeys Sam Lee and Molly Legg. “I normally ride work myself,” laughs Justin, “But Molly and Sam come in on Wednesdays so I can have a day off! Harry Greasby (who is in his final year at university and works part-time for Max Comley) also comes in to ride and is very helpful and enthusiastic. He made me aware that Kayf Hernando was for sale.”
Aside from the jockeys, Justin is quick to praise team members Lou Bannister and Scarlett Rogers, saying, “I was struggling for staff when we moved here, but Lou and Scarlett are two really good people. Lou is (professional jump jockey) Harry Bannister’s cousin, and has a great racing background, having worked for Sue and Harvey Smith among others, while Scarlett used to work for Colin Tizzard. I mustn’t forget my wife Abi!” adds Justin. “I couldn’t do it without her. She’s a residential surveyor but does all the paperwork for the yard and becomes a member of staff at the weekend. She rode Horizon D’Ainay in the Newmarket Town Plate in 2023.”
The move to Wyck Hill Farm came before the start of the 2024/2025 campaign. “I’ve known David for years,” Justin tells me. “He used to ride for Dad when he trained at Elmley Castle in Worcestershire – I was at school then. When I left, I worked for Dad, then went to Sam Drinkwater’s, then David’s. I was with David for six years, and learnt loads, as it was so different to my old man’s. He chucked me in without any armbands, getting me to drive the lorry, go to the races on my own and talk to owners.”
Racehorses have obviously always been in Justin’s blood, and he tells me about his grounding and ambitions. “Dad started with pointers – he won on Vulrory’s Clown, who has a race named after him at Doncaster, as a youngster – then got a licence. Though he started as a National Hunt trainer, he moved into flat racing, and most of his best horses were sprinters. I’d like to go professional, and potentially train flat horses myself, but I’m not saying it’s going to happen, and I’ll only do it when I’m ready.”
Justin had 17 rides as a jockey between 2015 and 2019, mostly on his own Gold Duster, getting off the mark in his final campaign. “I wanted to be a jockey, but couldn’t do the weight, so got an amateur licence for the flat. Dad didn’t have the numbers, so I bought Gold Duster from Tim Underwood to go pointing. My Mum, Wendy, who was the glue for Dad’s training operation, was ill – she passed away in 2015 – and I got Gold Duster so she could watch me ride. We were placed several times, but my riding wasn’t as good then! I carry her hunting brooch as a lucky charm – I had it with me in every race I rode and hold it while we have a runner.”
“In 2019,” Justin goes on, “I got to ride Accord. David was training him under rules but had chucked him out in a field. His brother suggested I have a go on him, so David said, ‘If you catch him, you can ride him!’ I did and remember the day because it was April 1st. I thought I’d have a go the next season, but David told me, ‘No, this one!’, so I rode him out twice a day to get us both fit! We were second to my friend Thomas Murray on Gabrial The Great at the first Kingston Blount May meeting, we went back for the next meeting there and I thought I was booked for second again, but he winged two out and we won easily, before going to Garthorpe and winning again. That was my last ride, because Covid came the next season.”
“I always wanted a go at training properly myself,” continues Justin, “But couldn’t do it at David’s, as his yard was full. Abi had two horses at livery, so we rented eight boxes from Harry Wheeler – an amazing guy – at Laverton, near Broadway, where we live. One of Dad’s owners gave me a horse, then David sent me two breakers. I was also working for DJ Jeffreys because he trains near Harry’s, so Abi had to do all the mucking out. We trained from there in our first proper season (2023/2024) then moved here as we wanted an all-weather gallop.”
Highlight of the season spent at Laverton was Horizon D’Ainay’s Larkhill hat-trick, which got Justin off the mark as a trainer, and Justin explained how and why he came to buy the horse. “I like maidens rated in the mid-90s from big yards, because it shows they have ability, and they’re no good to me if they’ve won! I’ve also always liked quirky horses – I used to ride the problem ones for Dad – my first technique was to work out the problem! I bought Horizon D’Ainay privately and the different way of doing things (in a small yard) suited him – he was buzzy and nervous when he came and I trained him on his own, as he was far too keen.”
First up, we watch Molly on Horizon D’Ainay and Sam on French Symphony, who fellow rider Will Badlan – “A huge help, an owner who really understands the game, and who comes in every week to school” – bought as a six-times placed, 98-rated maiden from Ben Pauling’s yard, go three times up the all-weather gallop. “The facilities here are great,” confirms Justin. “I also take them to Martin Keighley, Richard Phillips and Fred Hutsby for variety.”
Between lots, I talk to the two riders about their aims for the season. Molly is in her third year working for Tom Ellis and his wife Gina Andrews and achieved her first successes last year on Young Rich. “Wednesday is my day off, so I come to ride out here and at Fred Hutsby’s,” she explains. “As (Fred’s son) Tom has turned conditional, I’m hoping to have more rides for him this season, as well as for Gina and Tom. I’ve put together a syndicate of my family and friends and got (seven-time winner) Tigerbythetail to ride this year.”
Sam, who will have the mount on most of Justin’s horses in races, is a more hardened campaigner, with 36 winners to his name, including six last season after a two-year break to run the family farm. “I also hope to ride for Jo Priest, as well as Charlie and Fran Poste,” he confirmed. Asked about one of his mounts to watch, he laughs, “French Symphony – if his owner will let me!”
Second lot sees Molly on a Getaway mare owned by pointing stalwart Sarah Dawson and Sam riding a Jeu St Eloi – the sire of dual Lady Dudley Cup winner Jeux D’Eau – four-year-old owned by the Hobbs family, who have had success in recent seasons with the likes of Tara Storm and Kauto Riko.
Horizon D’Ainay is owned by the Pitchfork Partnership – which comprises Justin’s sister-in-law Keeley Brain, schoolfriend Paul Smaylen, friends Mike and Emily Parrot and Mike’s mum Madeline Curtis. “They also had Kayf Hernando last season and their only dream was to have one winner,” explained Justin with a smile. “But their strike-rate in points is five from 11 and, as Horizon D’Ainay also won two area awards, all of them got a trophy that year!”
His 2023/2024 flag-bearer is one of about half a dozen pointers Justin plans to run this season, although he won’t run, “Until he’s ready and the ground’s safe.” French Symphony may start in the older horse Maiden at Dunsmore, while Crystal Box could take in the bumper at Lower Machen on Sunday. Dadavic is targeting another bumper, at Larkhill in December, while Justin hopes Gladiateddi can build on his Edgcote debut.
Looking after owners is Justin’s key concern when I put him in the PPA’s hypothetical hot seat. “You have to get to the races early to get a good spot to picnic and watch the racing,” he tells me. “Owners should have dedicated parking with a good view of the action. Some courses are good to the owners – Larkhill give us extra passes when we ask, and Paxford always invite us into the marquee, even though I’ve never had a runner there.”
“To get horses,” Justin continues in the same vein, “You’ve got to get owners. Maybe syndicate owners should pay a small annual fee to be guaranteed free entry when they have a runner. Syndicates are a great way to get into the sport, and they may become sole owners in future. It’s important to be honest and truthful with owners – I keep mine involved every step of the way, telling them even if their horse has stepped on a stone and has to miss just one day of work.”
Justin has mixed views about the new race conditions for the coming season. “I didn’t think it was a good idea to remove Conditions Races (as the PPA was planning before consulting with participants in the sport) as they provide opportunities for horses who can’t win in a higher grade, but what they’ve done for novice riders, giving them more chances by extending the number of winners they can ride, and allowing them to claim in more races, is good.”
Justin is a keen advocate of point-to-point bumpers, saying, “They’re a great idea. Going straight over jumps can be hard, so they give horses experience, and the shorter distance sharpens them up. They’re also good for educating future two-mile hurdlers – not every horse is a three-mile chaser.”
He's also a fan of the increased use of video to promote the sport, but cautions, “The videos always seem to focus on young people, but we should also promote people who’ve been in the sport a long time, who have stories to tell and advice to share. Getting youngsters involved is positive, but we also need to cater for the older audience to keep them interested – maybe even reduce entry prices for them! In a nutshell,” concludes Justin, “The game needs to move with the times but include the past!”
Asked about other potential innovations, Justin comes up with an interesting idea. “The PPA should have seminars for trainers, like they do for stewards and course officials, and like the modules you take when applying for a licence. It would teach us how to deal with situations and help us with media training – I’m rubbish at that!”
Justin sees pointing as, “For young horses coming up, older horses ending their career, and jockeys of the future. Take Toby McCain Mitchell – someone else who was a massive help when I started. I’m delighted he’s doing so well as a conditional. It should be a stepping stone for everyone – trainers, bloodstock agents… even vets. (PPA Chief Veterinary Officer) Graham Potts used to be a farm vet but wanted to get into racing so started out by helping at his local point-to-points.”
As I take my leave, I ask Justin the secret of his success. He pauses before admitting, “I love the science. I like finding a way to get the talent out of old monkeys like Kayf Hernando and see them progress. I don’t know what I’d do if I had big numbers, as I like to treat my horses as individuals.”
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