O’Brien gets go-ahead for state-of-the art facility

Horse Racing
O'Brien gets go-ahead for state-of-the art facility

Fergal O’Brien has been give the green light to move to purpose-built stables at Withington in Gloucestershire.

The trainer, who has recorded 60 winners in each of the last two seasons, has been renting facilities from his old boss Nigel Twiston-Davies.

But his operation has grown considerably over the past four years, leaving the 53-box yard at bursting point.

And, after planners approved a scheme to set up at a farm owned by former Southampton Football Club chairman Rupert Lowe at Withington, the 46-year-old can’t wait to get started on the new facility that will house a the state-of-the-art training base with room for 80 horses, three gallops, horsewalkers, staff accommodation and offices.

O’Brien told The Sun: ‘The farm buildings are already there so it’s just a case of doing the floors and putting internal stables in.

They’re just like big Meccano sets so they can go up in the space of a week.

‘The big thing is putting the gallops in – you’ve got to get that right.

‘We’ve had a few gallops people in to give us quotes.

Now we need to get the best package together and get going as quickly as we can.

‘We’ve got a nice long lease so it gives us a bit of stability.

It is exciting times.’

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