REALISM is a virtue rarely seen in the razzmatazz world of horse racing. When winners are the only thing that matter – the only things that attract the owners – it is a brave man who isn’t optimistic, who doesn’t overplay his hand.

Simon West is brave.

In his 16-box yard at Middleham’s Castle Stables, a ten-winner total in 2009 is “shooting for the moon”. That’s the kind of number next door neighbour Mark Johnston can rack up in one hot week.

West is realistic about his chances, and his hopes. But don’t mistake realism for a lack of enthusiasm.

He knows he is living the dream.

“It’s stressful, but when one runs well it gives you a massive kick,” West said. “I have been given the opportunity and I would love to think I could still be doing it in ten years with a full yard of horses.

“I have got a good bunch of owners and good backers so there is no reason why not – unless the results aren’t up to scratch.”

West, who has been in charge at Castle Stables for just over three months, was handed his opportunity by tragedy.

Former assistant to Kate Milligan, he took over the licence in February when her worsening Multiple Sclerosis meant she could no longer handle the day-to-day operations of the yard.

“When she was taken very poorly about 12 months ago, I basically got thrown into the job,” West said.

“I started doing everything and it has now progressed. The boss is under 24-hour care now. Her MS is getting worse and deteriorating.

“It’s a business now. Kate is the shareholder of the business and I am the trainer employed.

“I have got a temporary licence. If everything goes to plan hopefully, by the end of the summer, I will have a proper dual purpose licence.

“The BHA know what is going on and they advised us to form a business, which is what we have done.”

West has learned his trade from good operators. Childhood holidays were spent with Roddy Armitage’s and he found employment with Alan Harrison on leaving school.

But it is from George Moore that he has taken his greatest inspiration.

“I was on and off with George for years,” he said. “I probably worked there about ten times. I probably learned more from George than I have from anybody.

“He never gets the credit he deserves and he’s trained around 900 winners now. He just always seems to get a good horse every year.”

West’s first winner is already in the book. But High Bird Humphrey’s success by a nose in the book online at catterick-bridge.co.uk Maiden Chase wasn’t without drama.

West explained: “He probably should have won the week before, but he made a bad mistake two out. I took him to a maiden chase and he won by a nose. There was a steward’s inquiry, which went on for about 20 minutes.

“It was perfect. It was ‘right, you’ve done it. You have got your first winner. You can relax – move on – and train for the next one’. It was nice to get it but it was nerve-racking – waiting for it to be confirmed.”

He added: “Winners are the only thing that gets you noticed. Statistically, it looks good. You start to get a bit more known. I am still on a high. I got the licence and then had a winner the month after.

“It’s all going too well. Last year we had three or four horses break down with tendon problems.”

And it has been getting better. A yard half empty in the winter is now brimming full and West has diversified into the Flat – widening the yard’s profile from Milligan’s mainly National Hunt stable.

“It is great to see a full yard in the morning,” West said. “It is how we want it and hopefully the yard will stay full. That’s the way forward. Obviously, when we took over National Hunt was the way.

“But I’ve brought three two-year-olds in. Spiders Star wasn’t meant to run on the Flat and she caused a surprise and won at Catterick. She’s back in for the Flat.

“We have got a little three-year-old, called Rioja Ruby. There is definitely five on the Flat and we have four or five in for summer jumping so we are going to be as busy. We don’t close down for the summer.”

West is optimistic. But then reality comes into play.

He said: “You have got to be realistic. It would be nice if just one of the two-year-olds won. It would nice to think you could get a bit more recognition. It would be nice to have a couple more winners on the Flat.

“We have got some nice young horses for next season. I suppose ten winners isn’t being realistic, but if we could do that before the end of this year it would be great. I would like to think we could get towards that total.”