Trainer Focus: Gary & Josh Moore: Stars of Cisswood Stables

(Image by: garyjosh_mooreracing)

Many racing yards are a family affair. Rarely is that more in evidence than at the West Sussex establishment of Gary Moore. Heading up a team which includes wife Jayne and sons Jamie and Josh, Moore presides over one of Britain's most successful dual-purpose yards. The general operations will look much the same during the 2024/25 jump season, but this year, Gary will officially train in partnership with son Josh for the first time.

Gary Moore went out on a high when training exclusively under his own name, with 2023/24 bringing wins in the Welsh Grand National, Grade 1 Henry VII Novice Chase, and a trio of Grade 2 events. That may be tough to match in 2024/25, but not impossible for a yard housing several intriguing contenders. Here, we outline the stable stars and highlight the runners we will track throughout the season.

Stable Stars

Editeur Di Gite

Making his yard debut in 2019 and going in the famous Preston Family silks, Editeur Du Gite has flown the Moore flag with distinction. Picking up his Grade 1 in the 2023 renewal of the Clarence House Chase, he has landed the past two editions of the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton. Now 10 years of age, striking at the top table looks a tall order, but he looks a live threat to claim a Desert Orchid hat trick in December.

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Le Patron

Having shown little over hurdles, Le Patron emerged as an entirely different proposition in his debut season over fences. Picking up Class 4 and Class 3 events in his first two outings, he took the step up in class in his stride to claim the Grade 1 Henry VII Novices’ Chase. He was disappointing after that display but had excuses at Sandown and Cheltenham and isn’t one to write off in high-class events over 2m4f.

Nassalam

The 2023 Welsh Grand National hero may find life tough this season, with a mark of 156 leaving him with few realistic options. Nevertheless, few horses handle bottomless ground as well as this chap, and he’s one to remember for staying contests on truly heavy going.

Salver

If there is a horse to take the Moores to the big Grade 1 race days in the coming years, this son of Motivator may be the one. Kicking off last season with Class 4 wins at Warwick and Exeter, he stepped up to Grade 2 company in style when landing the Finale Juvenile Hurdle by a resounding 21 lengths. Having added the Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle to his haul, he rounded off the season with a fine third in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He's expected to make a three-mile chaser in time but could be one to follow on the staying hurdle scene this year.

Eight For the Tracker

It would be great to see the likeable Editeur Du Gite add to his tally this season whilst, at the other end of the spectrum, Salver is a horse of considerable potential. However, there are plenty of winners to find elsewhere in the yard. Hopefully, the following eight will contribute to the tally of the Moores in the season ahead.

(Image by: garyjosh_mooreracing)

• Ballybentragh – Owned and ridden by David Maxwell, this seven-year-old did well in his first three Novice Hurdle outings before finding the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle a step too far. However, given his physique, he has always looked like a chaser, and we fancy him to progress beyond his hurdles mark of 128 now that he tackles a fence.
• Hurricane Pat – Finished second in two Point-to-Points last season – the second of which is working out well, with the first and fourth winning since. Hurricane Pat did his bit when landing his bumper and will be interesting when sent over hurdles.
• Invincible Nao – Shot up to a chase mark of 119 following a 14-length romp at Fontwell and a close second in a Grade 3 at Sandown. He’s yet to face soft ground since that Fontwell success, and he won so easily that we would be surprised if he doesn’t have a few pounds up his sleeve on his favoured surface.
• Issar d’Airy – Reportedly weak last season, this son of Sinndar still managed to pick up two wins in his debut chase campaign. Often looking like a step up in trip would suit last term, that was again the case on his recent comeback second at Ascot. Now sitting on a mark of 130, he may be well handicapped when moving up to around 2m4f.
• Kotmask – Progressing from a mark of 114 to a peak of 132, this one enjoyed an excellent 2023/24 season. Whether he has much improvement left at 2m4f, we aren’t sure, but he looks like a stayer to our eyes and will carry our cash at 2m5f and beyond.
• Old Cowboy – This Blue Bresil gelding is one of the more interesting recruits to the yard. By one of our favourite sires, and out of the 132-rated mare Tara View, he posted two solid Point-to-Point outings before joining the Moore operation in the Autumn. Set to be sent straight over hurdles, we like his chances of at least matching his mother's rating in time.
• Rip Wheeler – We always find the combination of winning Point-to-Point form and sire Walk In The Park tough to resist. This four-year-old falls into the favoured category and we will follow his progress with interest this season.
• Royal Way – Having taken time to acclimatise, following his switch from the French operation of Mathieu Pitart, this four-year-old rounded off the campaign with a hattrick of hurdle victories. He’s up 3lb for the last of those wins but looked value for more than the narrow winning margin that day. Having blown away the cobwebs with a recent spin at Cheltenham, he looks a big player for events such as the Gerry Feilden Hurdle at Newbury or the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham November Meeting.

Paul Harrison

Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.