FEATURE TOM SCUDAMORE
work together as a family, but I wasn’t sure if it would be right for everybody. We then all sat down around March time and all the cards just fell into place and it made perfect sense that this is the best way forward. “Eccleswall will become an arm to what is going on up in Scotland. The best way of looking at it is that I’m in charge of the under-21s squad, and when the horses come to run at courses down south, I will have a few first teamers as well. It means we can cover the whole country and continue the success that both operations have enjoyed on their own. Michael, with his small team, has had a Cheltenham Festival and Welsh Grand National winner, as well as other big wins, while Lucinda has enjoyed so much success in recent years. It felt that we had done so many things apart and if we put it all together, we would be in a position to achieve all the ambitions we want to do.” Does this mean we will see more southern runners for Michael Scudamore and Lucinda Russell Racing? “Ultimately, yes. It’s very exciting. We have a big team and this means we can cover more of the country and take on everybody. Lucinda and Michael want to be competing at the top table and this is the way we think we can go and achieve that.” Herefordshire is rich in Scudamore history, with your great-grandfather, grandfather and father all residing in the county. So does it feel like a natural home? “I do already feel at home here, but I have a huge affinity with the West Country and a big part of my
heart will always remain there. I spent the last 20 years in Devon, my wife is from Devon and my three daughters were born in Devon. I love Exmoor, I love the people and I feel Herefordshire is very similar to that with its charm, way of life and values.” So does this mean an end to your brief stint in the media? “Absolutely not! I can’t wait to join the team at ITV again. They are fantastic for racing, and the support they have given the sport over the last few years is unbelievable. I think their coverage is fantastic and we’re very lucky to have so much terrestrial airtime and should never take this for granted. There will always be rumblings and grumblings about it, but the support they give is amazing. I will also be continuing my ambassador role with Coral, a great supporter of mine when I was riding.” So what are your ambitions for the season ahead? “To be as successful as possible. I have never been one to set too many targets as there are a million and one things that can get in your way. I tend to concentrate on the smaller things like I did when I was riding. Can I improve certain horses? Can we do certain things at home? So my ambition is to find a routine that works, make things efficient and make sure our standards remain very high for everybody working here. “And if we get all the small things right, the big things will hopefully follow.”
“I miss the great days, but I even miss the bad days, as you learnt so much from them”
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