inside the mind of David Elsworth

David Elsworth has been training horses since 2006. He has had a bad year with no winners. Sir Dancealot's win at Goodwood was his fifth of 2019. He believes a viral problem may have been to blame. The yard could still earn more than £500,000. It has 28 winners last season and more £1 million in prize-money. Arabian Queen won the Juddmonte International at 50-1. Elworth has rented Egerton House Stables since the 2006 and it's a self-contained property.

Elsworth has been training horses for 65 years. He has won two Gold Cups with Red Candle in 1972 and 1973. Elsworth used to live in Whitsbury and had 100 horses in his care. Now he lives in Egerton's King's Yard with 30 horses. He used the opportunity to learn a lot from Colonel Ricky Vallance. In 1974 Vallances was demoted and Elworth was taken over by him. The horse Rhyme 'N' Reason fell at the first fence. It turned out to be Devon Loch's lad. They both saw the horse sprawled in front of them. His first Grand National victory was on Must.

Desert Orchid was a famous horse in Britain. He died in 2006 at Egerton House Stables. Jim McGrath called Elsworth late one night to inform him that Desert Orchid had died. Elworth had affection for his horses. Dessie was not so well behaved. Dessa died with dignity. Red Rum was also a horse with a lot of problems.

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