FORMER jockey Richard Woollacott has made an exemplary start to his new career as a racehorse trainer, reaching ten winners in just 12 weeks with the jump season just started.

Richard, a familiar face at Kilworthy and Cherrybrook races, is a former national point to point champion and nine times one of Devon and Cornwall area.

Now aged 34 he is based at Nethercott Manor, Rose Ash, near South Molton. He targetted 10 winners for the season but that has already come when at Hereford Racecourse this week where Gay Sloane romped home seven lengths clear of his rivals. Richard currently has a strike rate of over 30% which rivals the likes of champion trainer Paul Nicholls!

With ten winners on the board and such an impressive strike rate, Richard is now looking to improve further and move up the ranks in the Champion Trainers' table;

He said: 'We set ourselves what we thought was a realistic target of 10 winners for our first season training professionally and we've been very fortunate to have a great start with some super tough horses.

'We are now looking to improve further chasing our first big winner at one of the festivals. We would be delighted to have a runner at either Cheltenham or Aintree this season — fingers crossed we have horse power we need!'