Guest to take out trainer`s licence

Richard Guest, assistant/jockey to permit holder Norman Mason, is planning to go public as a trainer in his own right next year.

The pair combined most notably to land Martell Grand National success at Aintree last spring with Red Marauder.

And speaking to the Racing Channel after saddling Mason`s Able Native to win at Newcastle, Guest revealed: 'Hopefully the Jockey Club will give me a licence, I can`t see that being a problem.

'The boss came to me the other day and asked me how long I was going to ride for and I said another two seasons maximum.

'He said he`d like to put another 30 boxes up and back me there.

'I`ll be on a wage _ not a lot of things will change except there will be a lot of other people to train for.

'That`s the plan. We`ll have a dual-purpose licence and we want to try and train chasers. There`s no money in being a National Hunt trainer so if your going to do it you might as well set your stall out and try and train chasers.

'That`s where the fun is, that`s where the enjoyment is and that`s what Norman and I like so that`s what we`ll try and set out to do.

'It may be a bit ambitious having 70 boxes but we`ll try and fill them.

'He (Norman) is probably going to have up to 15 horses, maybe more, we`re going to whittle it down as we can.

'We may have a quiet season next year with a lot of horses going to the sales this summer so we`ve got the decks clear when we do go public.

'I`ll definitely ride next season. I`ll give it a right go next season. I never ride much in the summer and I`ll decide then.

'If I`ve got a lot of people and owners about I wouldn`t even be sure the Jockey Club will be too pleased with you riding and I don`t think it would be a wise thing to do when you`ve got a lot of people to deal with.

'I`ve been given a great opportunity by Mr Mason and obviously the end of next season will be the end.'