JUST as the racing pages have to look in on Messrs. Nicholls and Henderson, so too will the leading English trainers cross swords with the top Irish stables in harness racing.

The name ‘Laidler’ on the entry list provokes respect from the other owners and trainers at the major events in Britain and Ireland. The couple intend to bring runners to Cork in August.

Husband and wife team William ‘Rocker’ and Alexis Laidler are based in Spennymoor, Durham, but are willing to travel anywhere for the love of racing. The stable won the feature race at Ireland’s premier meeting The Red John Memorial near Clonakilty in 2021 and 2022.

The Laidlers were a couple for 15 years before marrying some 14 years ago. “I wanted to be sure,” quips Rocker. As with all good horsemen when he talks you listen. Rocker has an encyclopaedic memory for the winning times of races and the placed horses.

When they race in Tregaron (mid Wales) they go home each night, just a six-hour hike up the M62 ‘because it’s better for the horses’. Such dedication pays off as 14 UK trainers’ titles and thirteen drivers’ titles shows.

Highlights

“In 2023 our highlights were Evenwood Son Of A Gun breaking the UK one mile record in 1.54.6”, said Alexis “and Merrington Moving Up won several big finals including in Cork and also the Kit Bousfield Centenary Final off 80 yards.”

The two old stagers are in work to race in 2023 but Alexis chose to name five younger types for The Irish Field.

Oakwood Lucy Lou (Ire)

3yo f Sweet Lou – Capri Hanover

She is a real looker with ‘the Sweet Lou blaze’ and four white socks. She is a good size and well-bred. She was second in the VDM last year even though she met a lot of traffic. She is staked up to all the three-year-old races. Her grand dam threw The Preacher Pan, sire of Merrington Moving Up.

Oakwood Tricky Micky (Ire)

3yo g Always Be Mikki – Arts Temptress

He was unraced at two. He trained down as nicely as Lucy Lou but he picked up a little injury. He has a great temperament. His stable name is ‘Favourite’ as my four-year-old grandaughter Neveah calls him that.

He has done some fast work and did not disappoint. We work them in pairs as Rocker and I know our own track so well.

Greenhill Lou Lou (GB)

4yo m Sweet Lou – Shaba Hanover

She is one to watch. She got jarred on bad ground at Appleby last year. She got a bad draw in the VDM three-year-old fillies’ but she was staying on at the end, even with an interrupted preparation. Raymond Husckha and Arnie Flowers own her, they are great to train for.

Yerkes Hanover (USA)

5yo h Artspeak – Yankee Lovely

He won a few at two and three but got an injury at four. As our season is quite short it was better to give him the whole year off rather than rush him back for only two months of racing.

He broke the track record for two-year-olds in his first ever start at Tir Prince. He is not slaughtered in the handicap.

Enigmattic (GB)

3 yo g Always Be Mikki- Another Mattie

The spelling of his name is intentional as he is out of the remarkable broodmare Another Mattie. We took him away to work somewhere for the first time at two and he chipped a sesamoid. He belongs to Paul Johnson who gave £27,000 at the sales for him.

The next year Paul also bought his younger full brother Matt’s All Folks who we also train.