Ed McMahon's challenge is to build

'Follow that' is the challenge for Lichfield trainer Ed McMahon as he embarks on a new turf campaign buoyed by the acquisition of a bunch of promising two-year-olds.

Last season was the best yet for 46-year-old McMahon, who has been training for six years after taking over from his father Bryan.

McMahon ended up with some precocious talent on the yard at Horsley Brook Farm in 2010 and they burst into elite company to clock up four Group wins.

Two of those superstar youngsters - Temple Meads and Astrophysical Jet - are back for another attempt at some hefty prize money.

The third was Electric Waves, whose three wins on the bounce included the Group Three Cornwallis Stakes.

She was sold for a huge profit to justify her owner John Fretwell's policy of buying well-bred two-year-olds and moving them on when they make the grade.

There are 50 horses in training at Horsley Brook, half of them the new batch of babies, and the others established campaigners aged between three and five.

McMahon said: "We have some nice entries and, if it all comes to fruition, hopefully we will be in the limelight again.

"Among the older ones there are possibly some Group horses. The two-year-olds are completely unexposed and you never know where you are with them until they get on to the track.

"Mr Fretwell started with my father and we have an association of more than 20 years with him.

"He spends a lot of money on his two-year-olds, then sells and reinvests in improving his stock.

"It's a policy that has served him well over the years."

McMahon doesn't rush to get his horses into spring action, but the first big winner is already on the board.

Noble Storm made his seasonal debut at Newbury last Friday and cruised home in the Dubai Duty Free Double Millionaire Handicap.

The five-year-old, who has won at Glorious Goodwood, spent most of last season under a cloud while suffering a virus.

But he ran into form late in the summer and McMahon is hoping he'll progress, with Group races the aim.

The trainer said: "Hopefully he'll run well. He's very competitive at top class and I think there's a Group race in him."

One target is likely to be the Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh, won last year by the talented five-furlong sprinter Astrophysical Jet, who followed up with a Group Three success at Newbury.

She will be hunting some big targets this season, among them the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on Guineas Day, the Kings Temple Stakes at Ascot, the Nunthorpe Stakes at York, followed by a trip to France.

McMahon said: "She's a lovely filly and a four-year-old now. Hopefully she will be as good again."

Temple Meads, winner of the £100,000-to-the winner Weatherbys Super Sprint and the Mill Reef Stakes, will be out for the first time in May, going for the Group Two Duke of York.

McMahon said: "That is a tough race over six furlongs and it will give us an indication of where we are going with him.

"I hope he sees the six furlongs out because I wouldn't like him to clash with Astrophysical Jet over five. This race will help us to decide.

"There's only 220 yards in it, but we hope to be able to keep them apart."

McMahon attributes part of the yard's success to his policy of keeping the number of inmates down to around the 50-mark.

He said: "Doing it on this scale allows me to be more specific. If you have too many you miss out on the finer points.

"It's a nice number, it gives us a decent living and allows me time to spend with my wife and eight-year-old son.

"We are very busy - it's a 24-7 job - but we have time to breathe."

McMahon's high hopes for a successful season help to distract him from the dark cloud permanently hanging over his yard - the threat to the very existence of Horsley Brook.

Its 170 pristine Staffordshire acres lie right in the path of the proposed high-speed rail link and if it goes ahead, Horsley Brook will be finished.

Fears for the future are never far from McMahon's mind.

He said: "We have spent 17 years building this place to what it is now. This land is perfect for training horses. It's well drained and we have all sorts of terrain.

"We're centrally located for the motorway network. HS2 will pretty much split us in half - right through the middle of the gallops. We wouldn't be able to use the other side.

"You can't take racehorses over a bridge across a high-speed railway."

There are purpose-built racing yards for sale in areas like Lambourn, Newmarket and Middleham - wouldn't a move away be just as good?

But McMahon rejects that as a solution.

He said: "I have built my whole life here. The majority of my owners are local - they like to come and see their horses. I would lose their custom.

"You have to build up a relationship of confidence and trust with your owners.

"And I'm 46 now. Have I got the energy and time to put into building another place like this? I don't know if I could do it again.

"There's no point in pulling up stumps. This has to remain a viable business."

A positive outlook is the only way to deal with the worry, according to McMahon.

He said: "I'll keep on improving this place. We had a great season last year. I'm sure we'll have another one."

By Celia Holmes