Epsom revival

It is minus two and the paddock behind Epsom’s famous South Hatch stables, still dusted with snow, is bone-hard as the horses circle for inspection by trainer Jim Boyle. Come off on this ground and you could easily snap a collarbone. But there is not a whisper of apprehension.

When Wunder Strike, who scored his fourth consecutive win only the previous Saturday, bucks and kicks with the energy of a horse who wants to take on allcomers again today, sending others skittering, there are only smiles all round. ‘He’s always like that,’ says his proud trainer.

It is a stable of youthful happy grafters bustling their way to increasing success. Jim Boyle’s total for the 2009 season was 61 winners and his horses are leading a long-due Epsom revival. As the horses — Lady Kent, Party In The Park, Ocean’s Edge — file across the racecourse in the snow, Simon Dow’s string is visible, too — the total from nine or ten small yards using Epsom’s excellent facilities now backs up to 170 a month.

Backed by yard-owner John Hopkins, Jim Boyle came to Epsom after three years as assistant to the Derby-winning trainer Paul Cole. A qualified vet, he started with nine horses. Now, ably assisted by wife Pippa, who runs a separate foals, mares and equine holiday centre in Brockham, he has 45, seemingly defying the recessionary squeeze. The pair live and breathe racing. Despite the rising winning totals, they have lived five years in a mobile home. Other women might receive jewellery for their anniversaries: Pippa generally gets a horse.

South Hatch exudes racing history. Walter Nightingall trained winners there for Sir Winston Churchill. Then came the Australian ex-jockey Scobie Breasley. In the days when a slimmer Turf correspondent used to jog over Epsom Downs, Reg Akehurst was rejuvenating cast-offs from famous Newmarket yards there to land regular touches in major handicaps.