



Kim Bailey is a talented trainer who has been a true giant of the racing game for many years with a few ups and downs along the way. After a quiet spell in the early 2000s, Kim Bailey has come back as strong as ever with a consistent strike rate year in and year out since those dark days when winners eluded him. You have to take your hat off to him as he could easily have given up but that wasn't an option. As for the many talented horses that he has trained over his years in the racing game they don't come much better.





I am sure many of my readers will remember the 1990 Aintree Grand National winner Mr Frisk who won at 16/1 and was a great horse for the stable who won plenty of races along the way.





Five years later things couldn't get much better as Kim Bailey did the Cheltenham double when Master Oats won the Cheltenham Gold Cup beating Dubacilla for the second time at Cheltenham in succession in a what was a wonderful career for a horse that never stopped trying.





Alderbrook was a fans favourite and was the first part of the memorial double that week when beating Large Action by five lengths in the Champion Hurdle in what was a great race.





Since moving to Thorndale Farm in 2006 Kim Bailey is backfiring in the winners and it’s great to see. I want to say a big thank you to the man himself for kindly answering a few questions on his career and giving my readers a couple of horses to follow for the season ahead.





KIM BAILEY TALKS RACING, FISHING AND HORSES TO FOLLOW.





At what age did you get involved in the racing game and why?





My father was a trainer so I was born with horses around me.





What memories do you have of when you first started out training horses?





Having my first winner at Sandown and John Francome who rode it called me Peter Cundell.





You are one of the best National Hunt trainers around how do you keep that level up?





I am lucky I enjoy every day: good bad or indifferent as I am paid to do something I would do as a hobby.





Do you still get the same buzz as the early days when things were new and exciting?





Probably more so as having had a quiet time while I was based in Preston Capes it is good to be back with good horses.





You have had trained some exciting horses in your time including Alderbrook, Mr Frisk and Master Oats but who was your favourite horse to train?





Alderbrook as he was such a huge character...





What do you enjoy doing in your spare time if you get any that is?





Fishing for salmon when I can..although not much fish around nowadays...





What are the plans for Vindication this season?





Possible Charlie Hall at Wetherby or Intermediate chase at Carlisle the following day.. all ground dependant.





If you could train any horse who would it be?





Altior.





Who is your Novice Hurdler and Chaser to follow this season?





Sadlermor and Commodore Barry.









Thanks to Kim Bailey for taking the time to forward this submission.