James Owen, raised in Oxfordshire by his point-to-point trainer parents Herbie and Jennifer, has built a reputation as one of the most exciting new forces in British horse racing. A highly successful amateur jockey with 128 point-to-point wins, 14 victories under rules, and nine East Anglian Champion Jockey titles, he transitioned into training in 2014 with the establishment of James Owen Racing at Green Ridge Stables in Newmarket.
Initially focused on pre-training and breaking, his operation quickly earned recognition for its attention to detail and hands-on approach. Owen first made his mark in Arabian racing, winning the Arabian Racing Organisation trainers’ title six times, before expanding into mainstream racing with a full British Horseracing Authority licence in January 2023.
His impact was immediate, training over 175 winners in just 18 months at a 22% strike rate and amassing more than £1.8 million in prize money, highlighted by a Grade 2 Cheltenham victory with Burdett Road. Now overseeing a string of 93 horses, including exciting prospects such as East India Dock for the Triumph Hurdle and Wimbledon Hawkeye for the Derby.
The 2024/25 Season
Few trainers in Britain have made as much noise in such a short space of time as James Owen. Known initially for his dominance in Arabian racing, Owen is now fast establishing himself as a serious dual-purpose trainer, and his 2024/25 National Hunt season proved just how quickly he’s climbing the ladder.
At the heart of his campaign were two names that have become synonymous with his yard: Burdett Road and East India Dock.
Burdett Road carried the flag for Owen at the very top level. Already a Grade 2 winner, he made headlines again in November when storming to victory in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham. Carrying a big weight, he showed grit and class in equal measure, cementing his reputation as a horse capable of holding his own against the very best.
Owen didn’t shy away from bold plans either, openly targeting Grade 1 company for him, and by spring Burdett Road had lined up in championship company, underlining his growing stature as one of Britain’s most versatile hurdlers.
If Burdett Road was the flagbearer, then East India Dock was the breakout star. Unbeaten in his early juvenile campaigns, he went on to land the JCB Triumph Trial Hurdle at Cheltenham before returning in January with another impressive performance on Trials Day. Come March, he ran a stormer in the Triumph Hurdle, finishing a brave third, and left connections dreaming of even bigger days ahead. As if that weren’t enough, he switched back to the Flat in May and promptly won the Chester Cup, proving he is a rare dual-talent with a glittering future.
Beyond those headline acts, Owen’s jump team continued to grow in depth. A steady stream of juvenile hurdlers and handicap campaigners kept the winners’ tally ticking, giving the yard both breadth and momentum. Importantly, Owen demonstrated that he can place his horses astutely, striking a balance between experience and ambition —a trait often seen in the best conditioners.
By the close of the 2024/25 season, Owen had trained 48 jump winners and banked over £550,000 in prize money in the code. Not bad for a man still in the early chapters of his licensed training career. More importantly, his horses are not just winning races; they are competing and winning on racing’s biggest stages.
The 2024/25 season may well be remembered as the year James Owen went from “one to watch” to a trainer that Britain’s jump racing elite can no longer ignore.
Embed from Getty Images2025/2026
Owen’s Grade 1 ambitions are clear, with Burdett Road and East India Dock earmarked for top-tier contests such as the Champion Hurdle, Stayers’ Hurdle, and the Melling Chase. At the Cheltenham Festival, the yard will focus on the Triumph Hurdle, Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, and Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, offering opportunities for the yard’s younger and developing horses. Beyond Cheltenham, major targets include the Aintree Hurdle and the Celebration Chase at Sandown, while the Ascot Stakes remains a key option for dual-purpose talent like East India Dock.
Back in the Bay is one of the yard’s most talked-about novice hurdlers. By a sire known for producing tough staying types, he has already shown glimpses of class in his early schooling. He is expected to make his mark in maiden and novice company before stepping into graded races later in the campaign. Connections believe he has the scope to progress into a festival horse if his development continues at the same rate.
Grozni, a French import, arrives with solid form in the provinces and brings valuable experience of competitive conditions. His neat jumping and sharp turn of foot are attributes that should translate well to British hurdles. With Owen’s skill at placing his runners carefully, Grozni could be an early-season winner and one to follow into the handicaps as the year unfolds.
Honneur D’Ajonc is a progressive type who has been catching the eye on the gallops. He is expected to feature prominently in novice hurdles this term and could develop into a horse for the big spring festivals. His frame suggests he may one day make a chaser, but for now, the focus is on maximising his promise over timber.
Freebooter Sam appears to be a natural stayer. A big, rangy gelding with stamina coursing through his pedigree, he is being targeted at longer-distance hurdles with the possibility of stepping into novice chasing later in the season. His size and stride make him an exciting long-term project, and he could develop into a type for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Lavarie, a striking mare with an economical jumping style, is another who should bring Owen success. She has been earmarked for the mares’ novice programme and could be one to follow at tracks such as Sandown and Doncaster. Her connections believe she has the mental toughness to take on stronger opposition, making her a potential black-type performer.
Finally, Junior Des Bordes, a French-bred with a reputation for toughness, is set to ply his trade in Britain’s fiercely competitive handicap hurdles. With his strong constitution and ability to handle cut in the ground, he is the type of horse who could rack up a sequence of wins during the heart of the season.
Together, these horses underline the strength in depth at Owen’s yard going into the 2025/26 campaign. They provide a blend of speed, stamina, and versatility that should allow the trainer to target a broad range of races across the calendar, from novice hurdles to major spring handicaps.
Embed from Getty ImagesJame Owen to keep Owinning
Owen’s strategy for the season is multi-pronged: maintain and improve the yard’s strike rate by targeting optimal races for each horse, nurture young talent to build depth in the jump division, expand the tally of graded wins to cement the yard’s reputation, and continue exploiting dual-purpose potential, giving horses like East India Dock opportunities at the highest levels on both Flat and National Hunt tracks.
With an expanding team of promising hurdlers and proven graded performers, James Owen heads into 2025/26 determined to turn potential into performance and establish his jump division as a major force in British racing.
This has been another instalment of the Looking Ahead to the Jump season series. To read previous instalments like Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson, Rebecca Menzies, Dan Skelton and many more. You can find previous instalments HERE. Next up is Henry de Bromhead.