Tom Symonds granted training license

One item of good news to have emerged over the past few weeks has been the fact that Mr Henderson's former assistant, Tom Symonds, has been granted a full license to train. Excellent, say I.

There unfortunately had been a little bit of doubt as to whether this would have been issued due to his connection to those 'unfortunate circumstances' that these past couple of seasons have dogged Moonlit Path, Heather Royal and Binocular. However, happily common sense prevailed and the racing authorities (who for reasons of inadequacy and jealousy so often persecute genius) for once did the right thing.

I would imagine that even if a small fraction of Mr Henderson's talent has rubbed off on Tom Symonds then the latter is set for a career at the top of the training tree. Certainly, no fledgling trainer has ever been tutored better.

He will be training at a yard in Ross On Wye, in South Herefordshire, at stables owned by his parents and will have horses on the racecourse later this year. During his time at Seven Barrows Mr Henderson's protégé will have established many useful contacts and it is hoped that several leading owners send him some decent and promising horses to kick-start his career.

When the Herefordshire yard is up and running I would certainly recommend that my regular readers follow him closely and value should most certainly be obtained as several 'mugs' will foolishly write-off this novice trainer and as a result his charges are likely to start at inflated odds. In reality, of course, he is nothing of the sort having watched and learnt from Mr Henderson, the master of the profession, for several seasons now.

Incidentally, Charlie Morlock, who had until recently been training in his own right, will now assume Tom Symonds' former role.

 

I feel some needle in your post. Is everything ok in Henderson land Barney?

 

No needle at all, old boy. Simply happy that the authorities have done the right thing. Tom Symonds has ‘champion of the future’ written all over him and I’ll predict he’ll start his new venture with a bang rather than a whimper.

Re the Champion NH trainer of 2011/12 though. I think Mr Nicholls’ hold on the crown may be slipping and that Mr Henderson may be wearing it come the end of term. His armoury is looking extremely powerful.