Paul Nolan

The headline achievement so far is a pair of top-level wins, both coming at Doncaster — and both, remarkably, on the same day: 24 January 2026. Winning one of the biggest races in British racing is a career landmark for any trainer. Winning two in a single afternoon at the same track suggests something more than fortune. It points to a yard that arrived at Doncaster that day knowing exactly what it had.

When the weather turns and the ground gets wet and muddy, Nolan's horses noticeably improve. On soft or heavy ground, they win 5 from 33 races — that is 15%, or roughly 1 in every 7. Compare that to his overall rate of 1 in 12, and it is clear this is a trainer whose horses are prepared to handle conditions that others struggle through. That is a skill, not a coincidence.

His most productive working relationship is with jockey Sean O'Keeffe, who has ridden 8 winners from 59 races for the yard — winning at 14%, or almost 1 in every 7 rides. That is nearly double Nolan's overall win rate, which tells you the two have developed a real understanding of when and how to deploy their best efforts together. One partnership that has not clicked yet is with Tyson, who has gone 10 races without a win alongside Nolan — a reminder that not every combination finds its moment straight away.

Still only four years in, Nolan has already reached the top level twice and shown a clear talent for wet-ground preparation. The foundation is there.