A NEW racing partnership with familiar faces in the county is aiming for success in the New Year as Ledbury trainer Denis Caro has teamed up with racing legend Peter Scudamore.

Following a chance remark by Robert Kington, brother-in-law of Scudamore, Caro, who trains at Lilly Hall Stables near Ledbury, is now teamed up with the eight-times National Hunt champion jockey and the new business partnership is tasting success already this season.

Scudamore, who recently ended his long association with trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, is bringing his wealth of racing knowledge and contacts to the partnership, whilst Caro, a successful Jersey businessman in his own right, supplies financial acumen and an enviable training establishment.

Caro, who is best remembered for his point-to-point links and hunter chase success with Cool Relation and Cape Cottage, is still a chairman in his original travel business and he confirmed: "The partnership dovetails very well. Peter is obviously well known in National Hunt racing and brings his contacts, but we both bring different things to the table and hopefully it works."

An increasing tally of nine wins so far this season is testimony to the fledgling partnership but Caro is keen to stress: "We are a new yard, developing, but I'm happy and delighted with the ways things are looking for the future."

Scudamore, now based back in the county of his birth at Bromsash, near Ross-on-Wye, where his wife Marilyn trains point-to-pointers, is a full partner riding out most days, assessing the horses, and discussing all entries and declarations. He affirms the positive start that has been made.

"I'm delighted with the set-up and couldn't be happier. We have no major aims this season other than to keep the horses and humans fit and healthy and build upon it for next year," he said.

Scudamore, the Daily Mail racing correspondent and BBC racing pundit, is clearly enjoying his new surroundings and business partnership.

"This is God's own county and I always wanted to return to Herefordshire - we're very settled here," he said.

The set-up at Lilly Hall stables is very much a team effort with Julie Caro, Denis' wife, in the role of racing secretary using her background in corporate hospitality to assisit with the growing number of owners. In addition to head lad Christy Sheehan, the yard also has call on the services of veteran racing favourite Michael Scudamore, Peter's father.

The former Grand National winning jockey, now in his seventies, is still keen and Caro said: "Michael is a charming man and rides out one or two when needed. He has a huge amount of experience to call upon."

The new training venture is a thriving set-up with 35 horses at present, including The Villager and Zaffarani who have scored recently, but both partners realise that, after consolidating on the initial success, it will be the winners in following seasons that people will be looking to follow.

The name of Scudamore, with its county links, is once more back at home and, with Denis Caro, a new chapter is being written at Lilly Hall.