Newmarket trainer Jack Jones looking to build upon solid foundations built in 2023

When Jack Jones took out his licence in 2022, it is fair to say that there was no grand plan.

Armed with just two ‘very cheap and very average horses’ at Chestnut Tree Stables on Newmarket’s famous Hamilton Road, Jones and his girlfriend Polly Peate were very much the new kids on the block.

One of his 36 runners that year triumphed as Chagall won from 10lbs out of the handicap on the All-Weather at Chelmsford.

Yet, there was enough close-run things to suggest that Jones was taking steps in the right direction.

“We’ve not got a multi-million pound backer or anything like that – and that to me makes it more satisfying,” said Jones, who has previously worked for the likes of Kim Bailey, Paul Nicholls, David Simcock and Richard Spencer.

“Truth be told there was not much of a plan when we started and we’ve certainly done it the hard way.

“We had two very cheap and very average horses from syndicates with friends and family.

“But we started to grow, had a system and we stuck to it. It felt like things were going in the right direction because although there was lots of seconds and thirds, it was important because these were horses that shouldn’t have improved that much.

“It was tough at times but we kept our heads down and kept doing what we believed in.”

And sticking to his guns certainly paid dividends in 2023.

Jones would have settled for a simple improvement on the previous 12 months, but he was delighted with a return of 25 winners at a strike rate of 19 per cent.

“For a first full year I was massively delighted,” he added.

“I would have been happy with 10 winners, but to have as many as we did, that was way beyond what I expected.

“We built things up in terms of quality and then we started to get sent horses as well.

“Buying a horse is one thing, but being trusted enough to be sent one felt like a landmark.

“One of those horses – Shot – won on her first start for us. That one felt really satisfying and it just showed again what we were doing was the right thing.

“Another of the exciting ones was Up The Manor. He won at Doncaster and was always one we liked a lot, but you never know until they put it out there and race.

“After that win he finished fourth in the Windsor Castle, which was another amazing day.

“I’m not saying we’ve completed it or anything, but we’re moving in the right direction. We’ve got a good variety of horses and owners now.”

At the time of going to print, Jones had already enjoyed six more winners since the turn of the year and would appear to be well on course to surpass last year’s exploits.

Jones said: “We were lucky last year that we had some really good contributors in the yard.

“Our Scholar won multiple times, so did other horses like The Waiting Game and Navy Drums.

“We’ve got some really nice horses to play with and I’m hopeful we can continue to improve.

“We’ll keep ticking away and going under the radar.”