Based at Lower Coombe Stables in West Sussex’s historic Angmering Park, the facts underline that William is progressing nicely in his chosen profession.

Since starting out on his own in 2006, season by season his results have improved and 2009 was his best campaign yet. Knight notched up 23 winners - equalling the previous campaign's tally - and among those was his first Group triumph provided by Illustrious Blue.

The son of Dansili took the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood giving Knight his most significant victory on what is effectively 'home soil', just down the road from his yard.

Uvinza gave the Knight team a huge thrill when finishing a creditable third in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. The daughter of Bertolini proved to be a solid stakes performer all season, finishing in the frame three times and notching up nearly £30,000 of place prize money.

King of Dixie wasn’t quite able to repeat his fine exploits of 2008 but still remained a good money-earner by winning on two of his four starts.

Eolith will go into 2010 with her unbeaten tag remaining having won her first two races at Newmarket and Kempton. The form from both contests is turning out remarkably well and she looks to be an exciting prospect for the team next year.

Along with other solid citizens such as Dalradian and Dome Rocket Knight’s total prize-money for the year has increased markedly on his previous totals to over £230,000.

After four years with a licence, William has proved himself an upwardly mobile trainer. The result has been a better-quality yearling intake year on year. For 2010, in terms of both home-breds and those horses acquired at the sales, he feels his two-year-olds are, in general, the nicest bunch he has had to date.

William, an honours graduate in Equine Business Management at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, has certainly got ticks in all the right boxes as far as doing the job to a high standard is concerned. He honed his horsemanship skills either side of the Millennium, performing key roles as assistant trainer to leading handlers John Hills and Ed Dunlop.

With the latter, he spent five informative years, playing an integral part in the international successes of such names as champion filly Ouija Board, multiple Group 1 winner Lailani, Independence and other top-class horses. Such an experience wasn’t wasted on him and this enthusiastic and talented trainer is now making an impact in his own right.

By Tony Rushmer