A BENWICK greyhound trainer is set to move into the world of horse racing after joining forces with one of Newmarket s top trainers. Barry Marshall, 51, has run his own light haulage business in Benwick for nearly 20 years. But he has also pursued a passi

A BENWICK greyhound trainer is set to move into the world of horse racing after joining forces with one of Newmarket's top trainers.

Barry Marshall, 51, has run his own light haulage business in Benwick for nearly 20 years.

But he has also pursued a passion for greyhound racing, holding a training licence for 13 years and establishing a kennel of 12 racers.

And it was this work with one set of four-legged racers that put him on the road to Newmarket and a partnership with an Irish 2000 Guineas-winning trainer.

Barry explains: "When the ground became hard I used to take my dogs to the equine pool at Southfields Stable. Here, they could exercise without developing injuries.

"As time went on I became friends with a few of the people involved with the stables at Newmarket and began to look in to the possibility of owning a horse."

Barry's investigations led him to a racehorse owners' syndicate and Paul D'Arcy, former jockey and trainer of colt Indian Haven, winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas in 2003.

In joining the "Gongolphin" racing partnership, Barry co-owns With Ease, a colt foaled in 2004 and now trained by D'Arcy at the Green Ridge Stables.

Building on years of experience as a jockey and riding horses for Sir Michael Stoute, Barry Hills and Sir Mark Prescott, D'Arcy has been established as a trainer for eight years and believes that he has an honest approach to training.

He said: "I am always up front with the owners and tell them exactly what I think of their horses' chances.

"When I first got into training eight years ago, I wasn't a big-name jockey who could attract winning horses and instant success so it was a struggle.

"But I know that I am good at my job and now many horses are moved to my stables from others."

And now, D'Arcy is developing With Ease but knows that rushing him in to races is not the answer. He said: "With Ease has good form but we need to work on building his muscle.

"I have a nice batch of young horses here but I think that next year will be time when they mature and start to make an impact."

Having established contacts in the racing world at Newmarket, Barry now combines his work with organising VIP days out to the town.

He said: "I love coming down to Newmarket and it is great to show other people around the courses and stables, where they can see what happens behind the scenes at some of the finest stable yards."

Those participating in such a tour are treated to a day's races as well as a visit to Jeremy Noseda's Shalfleet Stables to meet the likes of Sixties Icon, the colt who won the St Leger two weeks ago, and the impressive Gainsborough Stables, where Ed Dunlop trains the likes of star filly Ouija Board and colt Broomielaw, owned by Lady Ferguson.