The Jumping Game

As the woman who trained the great Best Mate to win three consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cups, no one could be better qualified than Henrietta Knight to discover what makes today’s top jumps trainers succeed.

From eccentric, outspoken Yorkshireman Mick Easterby, to elegant, aristocratic Venetia Williams, from Irish wizard, Willie Mullins, to perfectionist champion trainer, Paul Nicholls and young pretender, Dan Skelton, here is a dazzling cast of extraordinary characters, all with their quirks and foibles, but with one single-minded ambition – finding first-class horses and training them to win big races.

Henrietta shares their dramatic journeys, methods and secrets of working in a tough, competitive industry. For the trainers, every win reignites the thrill of the sport and a craving for success that never dies. Their stories are fascinating, each one illustrated with unique photographs from private albums.

Author Biography

Henrietta Knight has lived all her life in the beautiful Berkshire village of West Lockinge, where she also trained the great racehourse, Best Mate with her late husband Terry Biddlecome. She is the author of three bestselling books, Best Mate: Chasing Gold, Best Mate: Triple Gold and Not Enough Time – a memoir of her time with Terry.