The long hot summer of 2003 has been the cause of many trainers falling short of their targets for the jumping season.

Not least among these is Lawrence Wells, based at Pallingham Manor Farm in Wisborough Green.

But luck has changed for the 20-horse stable since the turn of the year with three winners and more in prospect.

Wells said: "Without any firm ground horses, we didn't even have a runner until rain came in October.

"Yet out of the 52 runners we've had this season, 14 have been placed besides the winners and that is 33 per cent of runners in the money."

The good weather last summer enabled Wells to carry out extensive renovation and modification work on the farm buildings to turn them into stables.

He said: "We have 600 acres and until a year ago there were 150 herd of Highland beef cattle."

Wells and his wife Carrie now concentrate on the horses.

Carrie rides out recent Ascot winner Multi-Talented each morning, with the aid of their long-serving staff.

Wells said: "Most of them have been here for five years or more and luckily we're able to find them accommodation on the farm. It solves one of the major problems faced by most trainers."

Wells' total of 16 winners last season was his best in eight years of training.

He said: "We did that despite losing four winning horses, a down side of a good season."

The losses included one horse for which Carrie's father, near neighbour Paul Zetter, had paid a substantial five-figure sum Wells said: "Paul took it like a man but it was a serious blow. Thank goodness Zero Risk won a race for him at Fontwell at the New Year."

Wells took a full training licence because his original permit prevented him from training for his father-in-law.

He said: "I did need to balance the books and we had to find other owners who were paying training fees.

"Our first owner, other than family, was the former England cricket captain David Gower.

"David sent us a horse called Harrow Way who won a couple of chases and he's been a great supporter ever since."

The current bearer of the Gower colours of yellow with blue diamonds is Cowboyboots, a six-year-old who had his first run over fences at Leicester last week.

Well said: "I was delighted with him.

"Rodi Greene gave him a super ride and talked sense about the horse and there is no doubt the experience will have brought him on a great deal.

"Rodi will ride him again at Fontwell on Monday and we're hoping for the best."

If Cowboyboots delivers the goods in three days it will help to pay for the week's skiing planned by the Wells and the Gowers and their families of young daughters.

Pallingham Manor is not short of training facilities. Apart from two grass gallops of seven and eight furlongs round, there is a one mile sawdust track and an uphill all-weather gallop over the same distance.

In addition to an indoor school, which is invaluable for getting the baby horses going, a covered electrical horse walker saves time and labour.

As for jockeys, although Tony McCoy rode six of Wells' winners last season, he is not often available. So when the trainer was given the opportunity to bring over a 19-year-old amateur from Ireland last autumn, he took a chance.

John King has ridden all three of the winners this season and impressed with his style and strength.

Wells said: "John had only won a couple of point-to-point races and a bumper, but he was well recommended and a valuable member of the team. He can ride and school the horses at home. John wants to turn professional but he struggles to do the lowest weights."

Also on the staff of the Pallingham Manor team is conditional jockey Justin Morgan and amateur Claire Milne who have both had rides for the stable this season.

Sussex is unlikely to have a runner at this year's Martell Grand National.

The weights for this year's race were revealed on Tuesday with Skycab, trained by Nick Gifford at Findon, 79 from the top there will be a maximum field of 40.