Brassil coming to grips with being locked in the uncomfortable glare of the media spotlight

Seemingly from nowhere, Martin Brassil has emerged as one of this country’s rising training talents over the past two years. But, as Declan Colley discovered, the quietly spoken Curragh handler prefers to let his charges do the talking for him.

Martin Brassil is a man perhaps characterised most by his modesty and his demeanour as his yard is descended upon by a herd of racing hacks from the UK and Ireland is one of mild sembarrassment.

He’s not a man who’s ever sought the limelight, but with the likes of media stars Rishi Persad, Cornelius Lysaght and Jonathan Powell, among others, on hand for the annual stable tour of the winning trainer of the John Smith’s Grand National, the 50-year-old Clareman is locked in the uncomfortable glare of the media spotlight.