Iain Jardine, who rode as a conditional jockey for retired horse trainer and landlord Len Lungo, is moving from his current base near Hawick to the Hetland Hill yard, where he expects to be installed by September 1.
The purpose-built stable, which boasts all weather and grass gallops plus a schooling lane and indoor school, has been unused since Lungo quit training in 2009.
Jardine, who is nicknamed Scobie, has had jumps winners – including one at Aintree last summer – but is geared mostly towards the flat.
NEW BASE . . . Iain Jardine
The 38-year-old said: “It’s a fabulous opportunity and all my owners are coming with me. I have 14 horses at the moment but I’m looking to build the business up to around 30 and I’m heading for the sales shortly.
“The facilities are excellent and Len was a fantastic trainer. He is a perfectionist and everything has always been very well looked after.”
He added: “I’m young and keen to learn and if I ever need advice Len will be the first person I’ll turn to.
“From a personal point of view I’m not moving that far and remaining on the ‘right’ side of the border. It really means a lot to me that I will still be a Scottish trainer.”
Jardine had his first jumps runner in 2009 and started on the flat two years later. La Bacouetteuse was his first winner at Newcastle in August 2011 and has since won seven more races for his trainer, whose best season came on the flat last year with ten winners.
FOUNDER . . . Len Lungo developed the Hetland Hill facilities
Pleased to be handing over the reins to Hetland Hill, Lungo said: “I’ve known Iain since he left the school and I remember his first Aintree winner on Supertop.
“My job will be to make sure all the facilities such as the gallops are kept in first class condition for him.
“I’ll be here if he wants a second opinion but he’s the trainer and he’ll be making all the decisions – that’s the way it should be.”
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