78 SIDELINES APRIL 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
e
By Maria Wynne
Sidelines Writer Across the Pond
Oliver Greenall is one of four brothers - Jake, Toby and Tom
- all of whom have inherited the deeply entrenched family racing
genes. Having been brought up in an intensely competitive
environment, Oliver has set himself on the path of becoming a
leading Point to Point (steeplechasing) trainer.
With in-depth experience gained from leading fgures and his
own successful riding career, which includes the Mens National
Point to Point Championship in the 2007/2008 season (56
winners) Oliver is well placed to achieve his goals. Add to this his
inherently equestrian family background and it becomes clear that
he is a young man on a pre-destined path.
His father is Lord Daresbury, who was a keen and successful
champion amateur jockey himself, the fourth Baron Daresbury of
Walton, more commonly known as Peter Gilbert Greenall. Lord
Daresbury is not only heir to the brewery giants Greenalls, a
former High Sheriff of Cheshire, a company Director with a chain
of hotels, a former Master of the Wynnstay Foxhounds, long-time
friends of the Royal family and a fnancial player in the City, he is
also Chairman of Aintree Racecourse where the legendary Grand
National is run each year.
Oliver’s mother, Lady Daresbury (Clare), hails from the
Weatherby family, who founded the private company Weatherbys
in 1770. This organisation is the heart of the Thoroughbred Industry
and provides British Horseracing with its central administration
and maintains the founding Thoroughbred Breeding Register.
Other notable personalities in the family tree include Oliver’s
Great Grandfather who hunted the Limerick Hounds in Ireland
and his Uncle Johnny Greenall whose name is synonymous
with brilliant horsemanship and a blazing day of Hunting with the
Meynell.
Oliver trains from Stockton Hall, Malpas in Cheshire and
currently has 20 horses in training, doubling his tally from last
year. He has particular hopes for a horse called Cool Friend, a
real stayer who will be aimed at the Aintree Foxhunters later on
this year. However it is not all about winners, but also educating
the youngsters and ensuring that they develop correctly and reach
their full potential, fully confdent in their own abilities. If this means
that a horse does not run until late in the season then so be it. He
will mature into a better horse for the next season.
Oliver himself is a charming, self-deprecating, modest,
courteous and polite young man who has time for everyone
and quite a formidable female following. Particularly amongst
the cougars of the countryside! Horse & Hound magazine ran a
feature in the February 14th issue titled “Hunting’s Most Eligible
Bachelors” and unsurprisingly Oliver and his three brothers were
all featured. Their parents would have been proud! I can imagine
that upon reading the article Oliver will have covered his mouth
with his hand and giggled in his boyish way with embarrassment.
To learn more about Oliver, visit his website www.olivergreenall.
co.uk or follow him on Twitter at @olivergreenall.
About the Writer: Maria Wynne has spent her entire life with horses and her family
background is steeped in them. She is a proud (single) Mum of the an adorable 4
year old son named Theodore Denman, who is named after the 2008 Cheltenham
Gold Cup Winner.
Oliver riding Tinkwood at Tabley Point to Point.
Photo by Richard Dawson Photography
Racing genes: (left to right) Lady
Daresbury, Thomas Greenall,
Owner Eric Brook, Oliver Greenall
and Lord Daresbury
Oliver Greenall: Royal Racing Lineage