22-year-old Max Comley is a young man going places. Since he retired from the saddle in 2018 following a battle with his weight, he has turned his hand to training to good effect. Now installed at the purpose-built Brockhill Lodge, near the well-known training centre of Naunton in Gloucestershire – courtesy of owner Neil O’Hara and sponsor Louis Gill of the Cotswold Film Company – he has a string of “15-18” with which to go into battle this season and looks sure to build on the success he has enjoyed so far. I went to watch his squad work in the run-up to the new campaign and to ask Max what he hopes to achieve in the sport.
On arrival, Max and I brave the rain and stroll over to the five-furlong all-weather gallop, where four of his string – Bernardelli (Ella McGarty-Jones), Cranbrook Causeway (Jess Telford). Prove Me Wrong (James Busst) and Pershing Missile (Lara Horn) – are about to canter four times round in each direction, having warmed up with a ten-minute trot in the manege. Max is particularly keen on the former. “He was rated as high as 140 with Nicky Richards, has won several races and is consistent. He’ll be a fun horse for Ella – who’s 18 and started working here last year – in Ladies Opens and Novice Riders races.”
Next we make the short drive to Nigel Twiston-Davies’ gallops, where Gold Cup and Grand National winners have been trained. “We come here twice a week to work on the hill gallop,” Max confirms. Today sees Cloudy Joker (Lara), Madam Hannah (Jess), Madam Vogue (James) and Pauls Hill (Ella) going three times – one canter, two gallops – up the latter. As well as today’s riders, Max benefits from leading point-to-point jockeys Izzie Marshall and Tommie O’Brien coming in once a week, as well as a top professional in David Bass. “I’ve known David since we were at Kim Bailey’s together,” explains Max. “His knowledge is so helpful to me.”
On the way back, Max tells me how his move to Brockhill Lodge at the start of last season came about. “I’d been based at Rendcomb, near Cirencester (where he trained his first winner, Twentyoneblackjack), but I had too many horses for the space and was training some of them straight from the field. I was recommended to call somebody called Neil, and he asked me, ‘Do you want to ride in a team chase?’ We went to the Berkeley, came third in the Intermediate grade, and built up a rapport. He called me one day and said, ‘I’m thinking of buying this place. What do you reckon?’ It was just a hole in the ground then!”
Neil explains why he’s entrusted his facilities to such a young trainer. “What I like about Max is that he does other stuff too. He’s got a reputation for breaking-in, pre-training and getting horses ready for the sales. He brings an extra dimension to the yard and I find that really interesting. I’m trying to build something that someone like Max can grow with – that’s what I enjoy.”
So what are Neil and Max’s goals for their Brockhill Lodge project? “Keep up with Max’s constant demands for new gallops and schooling fences and keep him happy,” laughs Neil. “Seriously,” he carries on, “It’s all about reputation and quality. We want people to want to send horses here and to have confidence in everything, from the ability of the staff to the biosecurity. People are sending us horses they love and that cost a lot of money and we need to look after them, the people as well as the horses… I want Max to win races – and I’d like to be an owner of horses in the Cheltenham and Aintree league, but I’m not there yet. I’d love to have something good enough to have a crack at the cross-country race at Cheltenham – I’ve got the taste for that from team chasing.”
Max is more succinct in his ambitions. “The dream is to have a rules licence, 100 horses and runners every day and for people to think, ‘That lot at Brockhill do a good job with their horses.’” He recalls how his dream started. “I first sat on a pony when I was three – I don’t even remember it, but I loved it and kept going to the local riding school. I did work experience at Kim Bailey’s, which got me some connections then, when I left school at 16, I was going to Hartpury College after working for James Evans over the summer. But I told my mum that I had no interest in college and she said, ‘You’ve always wanted to be a jockey and I’m not going to stop you.’”
“I went back to Kim’s,” continues Max, “And stayed for three seasons. Mr and Mrs Wills, who had horses with Kim and Tom Lacey, gave me Trouble Digger – who had been with Tom – as a schoolmaster. I had five rides on him and we were placed three times. The season after he retired, I had a few injuries but got a lot of experience, then I started riding for Ryan Potter, who was very good to me. I won on Oldeddietherebel for him at Andoversford in 2018.”
Max cites riding Tinelyra round Cheltenham as one of his career highlights. “He was a special horse,” he remembers fondly of his former mount and second winner as a trainer. “I bought him with my friends Zac Davidson and (former rider) Sam Fizor when we were drunk. We’d told trainer Andrew Campbell we didn’t want him but we joked about getting a syndicate together and, a silly amount of drinks later I texted Andrew… I rarely drink but woke up in the morning with a banging headache – and a horse! Zak and Sam hadn’t even remembered. That’s why we were called the We Agreed To This On A Sesh Partnership!”
While Max didn’t partner Tinelyra to victory, their two placings helped him to the West Midlands Area Novice Jockeys Championship in 2018. “The title is based on points and I was placed a lot,” he admits. “And I rode at Cheltenham – although I had to waste for three weeks to ride at 11-5.” It was weight that caused Max to call premature time on his career as a jockey. “I’m six foot five,” he explains, “I’d live off green tea, sweets and fruit with no carbohydrates or alcohol and would sleep all the time – if you’re asleep, you don't think about eating. So I gave up for the good of my health – mental as well as physical.”
The mention of health leads the conversation to Covid-19 and how it has affected Max, Neil and their Brockhill Lodge operation. “For the horses, it was quite straightforward – with no racing, I just put them in a field!” jokes Max. “But it’s very different running a business – it helped being able to furlough staff and we managed to stay afloat… I hope we’ve come back stronger. It’s been a good time to buy horses – we’ve been able to afford ones that were outside our price range before and people still seem to want to own racehorses.”
I ask Max how he things pointing will be affected by Covid-19 this season and beyond. “It’s got to adapt,” he replies firmly. “It’s the 21st century – there should be live screening and television channels showing it. Maybe this year’s events will be the impetus to get that done. It needs to be accessible. It’s old-fashioned at the moment and is playing catch-up. We need to get it online and immediate – you can get an internet signal anywhere now and at the moment, if I have runners at two meetings, I have to wait up to a week to see the other race. We could have online betting and it would open up the sport to a whole new crowd of people and get them involved.”
Max, though, is keen to stress what he likes about point-to-pointing. “It’s a brilliant sport”, he enthuses. “It’s a great way to get involved with horses – anyone can own one, and anyone can train. There are so many more regulations under rules, while pointing is straightforward and old-fashioned, but in a positive way. I like the fact it doesn’t copy rules racing and allows lower-rated horses to be competitive, but at the same time, some of the Opens are like high-grade Handicaps.”
“It’s a sport well-run by good people,” continues Max. “And I like the way it sticks to its grass roots. Hunting is still very important – we hunt some of ours and Knockaderry Flyer loves it – but not having to hunt point-to-pointers is a good thing… both for the horses and the people who hunt. It wouldn’t be great to have 20 three-year-olds at an opening meet!”
Neil’s last contribution sums up what he feels about point-to-pointing and why he has invested in Brockhill Lodge and Max. “You’ve got a shot and you don’t have to be J P McManus or spend £100,000 to be in the mix. And you get real access – I get a thrill from standing in the lorry park with my horses and I can even ride them out. There are different ways in – youngsters, older horses, those who haven’t made the grade…” He pauses before concluding. “You’re living the dream.”
Max’s “Super Six”
Cloudy Joker
Would have been at least second if he hadn’t fallen at the last in the Ladies Open final at Stratford in 2019. Only ran twice last season due to a minor injury, but wouldn’t have run on soft ground anyway, and ran a blinder at Larkhill. Two-and-a-half miles is his best trip, but he gets three miles on good ground. Retains his ability and will go for Mens and Ladies Opens and Hunter Chases.
Heist
By Galileo, won eight races for Patrick Griffin in Ireland, has been to Aintree twice and stays three miles. A recent purchase for Harriet Attinger and will be an Open horse for Tommie O’Brien and Izzie Marshall – I believe that those who come here and put the work in should get the rides.
Knockaderry Flyer
I’d love to see him win a race for me – he’s got so much ability and deserves to. He was unlucky in 2018/2019, when he was fifth in the Cheltenham four-miler, and a niggling injury ruled him out last year. Will go for Conditions or Novice Riders races.
Madam Hannah
Owned by the Allsops and was second in a Larkhill bumper, where she ran her heart out. She was ready to run again when the season ended. She’s genuine, scopey for a small horse and has a fantastic attitude. Will stay in bumpers for the time being and was fourth at Maisemore Park on Sunday.
Pauls Hill
Unlucky not to win at Cocklebarrow last season when unseating James King three out then ran a great race at Larkhill to finish third in the Coronation Cup. Wants three miles and good ground, I rate him highly, and I hope he’ll be good enough to go for the Cheltenham Foxhunters. The soft ground didn’t suit him at Bishops Court.
Prove Me Wrong
Won an Irish point but has been disappointing over here. We bought her last year and are hoping that the change of scenery will bring out the best in her. Was running a great race when brought down at the last at Bishops Court.