Prominent National Hunt owner Sir Graham Wylie, whose silks are synonymous with outstanding staying hurdler Inglis Drever, has revealed he will not have any horses in training for the first time in nearly 20 years as he takes a break from the sport.
With wife Andrea, he amassed a powerful string of National Hunt horses that were based with Howard Johnson and retained the services of jockeys Graham Lee, Paddy Brennan and Denis O’Regan.
When the BHA disqualified Johnson for four years, the Wylies utilised the services of Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins
As well as three-time Stayers’ Hurdle hero Inglis Drever, other top-class performers for the Wylies include Tidal Bay, No Refuge, Arcalis, On His Own, Yorkhill, Bellshill and Nichols Canyon.
Wylie, speaking to the Racing Post, said: “I’m very busy with other businesses so it felt the right time to take a break from it all now. We have our charity and we’re involved in some very big businesses that need our attention right now in the current pandemic.
“I just don’t know right now when we might have horses again, as I’m focusing on so many other things – like the British Masters which starts this week. We’ll just take our involvement in anything as it comes.
“I’m taking a break. I had a very bad year with my three best horses sadly dying. That was a very difficult time for myself and my wife.”
