Given the nickname of ‘The Good Doctor’ thanks to his previous career as a GP, Richard Newland turned his attention to horse racing, becoming a trainer in Worcestershire. A small yard, usually with winners on smaller tracks and low-grade racing, the yard shot to prominence in 2014 when Pineau De Re won the Grand National that year under an excellent ride from Leighton Aspell.
Starting with just three horses, the yard has grown into something far more significant, and much of that has been down to the success that Richard has delivered in lower grades. He is known for being very shrewd when buying horses, and rather than being given an expensive horse, or one that has already reached dizzy heights, his success stories are those of buying cheap and improving.
When winning the 2014 Grand National with Pineau De Re, Richard Newland was having his very first runner in the race, and one that he will, of course, never forget.
Richard Newland Grand National Wins
- 2014 - Pineau de Re ridden by Leighton Aspell
Full Results
| Year | Horse | Result | Prize Money | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Pineau de Re | 12 | - | Daryl Jacob |
| 2015 | Royale Knight | 6 | £13,200 | Brendan Powell Jnr |
| 2014 | Pineau de Re | 1 | £561,300 | Leighton Aspell |
First Grand National Winner Pineau De Re
After starting training in 2005, Richard Newland had his first Grand National runner nine years later in 2014. Just having a runner in the race was an achievement, mainly because his yard never received the big money purchases that are moved around, relying instead on horses who were cheap, usually cast offs from other yards.
Pineau De Re was purchased from Ireland, and this was on the back of winning the Ulster National at Downpatrick, and he won by a wide margin that day, 23 lengths in total. He was moved across to the Newland yard straight after and went from strength to strength.
He went into the race as a proven stayer and certainly lasted the 4m2f trip of the National. He jumped well, far better than on his previous attempt over the fences in the Becher Chase and put that with his staying power to come home in front. In the end, he was a five-length winner at an SP of 25/1, mainly because there were doubts over his jumping ability due to his fall in the Becher.
He put that behind him, though, and battled on to give the Richard Newland yard the most significant success of their career to date by winning the race.
Famous Horses Trained by Richard Newland
Here are some of the more prominent names trained by Richard Newland during his career.
Pineau De Re
Beau Bay