Phil Turner

Fiercely proud of his Welsh roots, Phil was born (1971!) in St Asaph Hospital, which is also the birthplace of Barry Horne (Everton legend, NOT the animals rights activist) and the Welsh girl out of Steps (Lisa Scott-Lee, NOT “H”).

A sickly child due to chronic asthma, Phil spent much of the late-‘seventies holed up in front of a TV set studying what Grandstand or World of Sport had to offer and became fascinated by two things – namely horse racing and, of course, Dickie Davies’ white quiff.

Fortunately the latter obsession has faded during the intervening years, but the exploits of names such as Red Rum, Night Nurse (still by far his favourite horse) and Sea Pigeon mean he’s been hooked on jump racing ever since. After a dazzling career in local newspapers, Phil joined Timeform in 1996 and has been an ever-present in the National Hunt department from the off.

Editor of the Chasers & Hurdlers annual since 2005/6, Phil takes a keen interest in the sport’s heroes of yesteryear, as well as its future stars, and he exerts as much influence as his role will allow to ensure that Night Nurse remains the highest-rated hurdler in Timeform history.