Ambitions of Fahey continue to gather pace

He finally won this mile-long cavalry charge, which dates back to 1853, two years ago when Brae Hill prevailed under Tony Hamilton.

Yet the quality of this year’s renewal means Brae Hill may not make the cut – he’s 34th in the handicap present – and Fahey’s leading fancy could, instead, be Gabrial’s Kaka.

Owned by Salford City Reds’ owner Dr Marwan Koukash, the four-year-old carries impressive form over from last season.

Placed behind Brian Ellison’s Top Notch Tonto at Newmarket, Gabrial’s Kaka was then runner-up behind John Gosden’s subsequent Hollywood Derby hero Seek Again at York’s October meeting.

Fahey, based at Malton, also intends to run Hi There who won handicaps at Newbury and Ayr towards the end of the season.

“Realistically, when you’re targeting a horse at the Lincoln, the preparation begins early in the year and then you just have to wait and see what the ground is like,” he said.

“Gabrial’s Kaka is in great order and hopefully he’ll run a big race. He has the right sort of profile for the race as a four-year-old and, hopefully, he’s still improving.

“Hi There is probably more of a mile-and-a-quarter horse and wants soft ground. The fact Brae Hill doesn’t look like getting in shows you how high the standard of the race is now. Years ago you could get horses that were unexposed into the Lincoln – now you almost have to be badly handicapped just to get in.”

The Fahey-trained trio are among 79 horses to have stood their ground at the confirmation stage, with 19 horses being withdrawn.

As expected, the top-weight Penitent was taken out as David O’Meara’s horse is going for the Godolphin Mile in Meydan on Dubai World Cup night.

That leaves Keith Dalgleish’s Chookie Royale and the Andrew Balding-trained Tullius, the mount of top apprentice Oisin Murphy, at the top of the handicap.

Yet what was most striking yesterday was Fahey’s ambition to turn his Musley Bank stables into the most successful yard in the country.

Three new barns mean that he will be able to train 200 thoroughbreds and attempt to build on the 160 wins recorded last year.

“We’re in year three of a five-year plan now,” he explained.

“We wanted to make this the best yard in the country and hopefully we’re getting there.

“We are always trying to improve. I never really set targets, but we had six Group-race winners last year and 15 Group-placed, so if we can do that again and maybe improve a touch we’ll be happy.

“A Classic winner would obviously be great, that’s what every trainer wants – I think I’d be drunk for a week!

“It’s all about the horses. If we can do anything to make their lives more comfortable then we’ll do it. I have been shocked with the progress we’ve made in the last few years, but it’s a huge team effort.

“I’d like to think we’ve got the best staff in the north of England, and that’s not by chance, it’s because we’ve head-hunted the right people and done the job right.”

The fact Fahey is a 100-1 shot to be crowned champion trainer this year shows he still has a way to go before he can seriously compete with the powerhouse yards of Richard Hannon, John Gosden and Aidan O’Brien, who are all expected to dominate once again.

“The more horses we have the better, in my opinion,” added Fahey. “I know some people think if you get too many horses you can’t give them all individual attention, but I don’t think that’s a problem.

“I can’t do it all on my own, but if you have the right staff it works fine and I’d have no problem training over 200 horses.”

Fahey hopes to hit the ground running, just as he did in 2013.

He said: “We had a good winter, we’re quite happy with where we are and we don’t have any excuses.

“The only thing I would say is that because we have such good facilities, we felt we were probably slightly ahead of some of the other yards at the start of last season and because this winter has been so mild, they might be on a par with us this time around.”

Fahey appears strong in almost every department this term, with the likes of Parbold, Sandiva and Dutch Courage discussed as potential Classic contenders.

Heading the team of older horses is Garswood, who won the Free Handicap and the Lennox Stakes last year as a three-year-old and was last seen finishing third behind brilliant filly Moonlight Cloud in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp.

Leading Crabbie’s Grand National hopefuls Tidal Bay and Rocky Creek pleased trainer Paul Nicholls in a racecourse gallop at Wincanton with their big-race jockeys in the saddle.

Sam Twiston-Davies got the leg-up on the veteran Tidal Bay, with Noel Fehily partnering Rocky Creek in the two-mile workout at the Somerset venue.