Nick Gifford has started work as assistant trainer to his illustrious father Josh at Downs Stables, Findon.

He plans to obtain a licence to train this time next year.

But, like Tim Easterby in Yorkshire, who won the St Leger with Bollin Eric last week, he will turn to his father for advice.

He said: "I have some big shoes to fill.

"I have had some success training point-to-pointers in the last two or three years and that helps with self-confidence and our owners are being very supportive."

But, for the moment, Nick has got to grips the role of assistant trainer, taking over the routine jobs on a daily basis.

He said: "I am in the yard at 6.45 each morning and I check the board to see which lad is riding what horse.

"That is the first job and then it is up to the gallops to watch the exercising and check the youngsters in the paddocks before breakfast."

Minor injuries have to be monitored and then he has a session in the office, planning entries for the 40 or so horses in the yard.

Josh has never been keen on summer racing, so Downs Stables will not be fully in action until early October.

Nick said: "Orient Express is our only firm ground horse who has run recently and he may go to Fontwell on Tuesday or Plumpton next Saturday.

"After that he is off to Ascot Sales. My sister Tina won a one-day event on him at Tweseldown and he is only a five-year-old so he will make a good fun horse for somebody."

As a result of a fall from a young horse in the school in July, Nick has had a frustrating summer.

He suffered a compressed vertebrae and is still a few weeks away from riding out.

"At the moment more than 40 minutes in a car becomes pretty uncomfortable.

"But I can walk around okay and I have been having intensive physio and plenty of swimming, so I hope it will not be too long before I am back in the saddle."

Long-time stable secretary Judy Bradley has been succeeded by Tina Ford, who had been working for accountants in Brighton.

Nick said: "Tina has had a horse of her own to ride and she has always had an interest in racing.

"She has been quick to grasp the routine of entries and declarations and so on and that is good news because she is doing a vital job every day."

Jockeys Philip Hide and Leighton Aspell will again take the bulk of the rides, while Matie Smith's 7lb claim will be fully utilised in appropriate races.

Nick's cousin, David Dunsdon, head of the International Amateurs' leader board, will continue as stable amateur and is particularly looking forward to riding Belvento, on whom he won several point-to-points and a Maiden hunter chase at Folkestone in May.

Nick is looking forward to how Kopek performs.

Nick said: "We lost our best horse for a long time when Rouble was killed at Cheltenham last spring. But Kopek is his four-year-old full brother ."

The woodchip-based canter at Findon was relaid during the summer and all that is needed now is some steady rain to settle it down and take the sting out of the grass gallops.

With new blood and some new horses, Downs Stables could be in for an exciting season.