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Kiltale Dunsany Meath
Ger Lyons has established himself as one of Ireland's most respected and consistent horse trainers, known for producing high-class sprinters and milers. Based in County Meath, Lyons has built a reputation for precision, patience, and an ability to get the very best out of his horses. His task is not an easy one with Aidan O'Brien among his main rivals, but he is certainly one of Ireland's very best trainers.
Lyons did not initially follow a straightforward path into training. He spent time working in different areas of the racing world, and subsequently spent four years as a National Hunt jockey in northern England. Over that time, he rode 50 winners and completed the Aintree Grand National before going on to take out his own licence in 2004. His base at Glenburnie Stables in Dunsany has since grown into a thriving operation.
A key component of his success is the close-knit, family-oriented structure of the yard. His wife Lynne plays an active role in the running of the stable, while his sons have also been involved in the business.
Lyons enjoyed steady progress in his early years, but his breakthrough came with a series of high-profile wins that elevated him into the top tier of Irish trainers. Lyons particularly enjoys training two-year-olds and it was with his filly Elletelle that he broke new ground when landing the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2007 with Johnny Murtagh in the saddle.
Among his most notable successes are multiple Group 1 victories, including wins with star performers like Siskin, who captured the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2020 after taking the Phoenix Stakes the previous year, and Lightening Pearl, winner of the Cheveley Park Stakes in 2011. Even So gave the stable a second Classic in the Irish Oaks in 2020, just a few weeks after Siskin's big win.
Along with his success at the highest level, Lyons is known for his candid and often humorous media presence. He is refreshingly outspoken in interviews, offering honest insights into the realities of training racehorses. He has always come across as very approachable and humble in his interviews.
Lyons has enjoyed success at several of Ireland's racecourses, particularly the Curragh, where many of his top horses have delivered standout performances in Group races. He has also been highly effective at Leopardstown and Naas, where his runners frequently excel in both maiden and stakes company.
The yard can be well worth following on the all-weather at Dundalk where they have amassed an astounding 266 winners to date, operating at a 17% strike-rate, while a surprising fact is Lyons' best strike-rate of all in Ireland comes on the beach at Laytown, which has a 29% return, so keep an eye out for his runners there in September.
They don't venture to Britain too often but the stable is a perfect 1-1 at Lingfield and 3-4 at Kempton, whereas they have returned just one winner from 38 runners at Ascot.
