Graham Bradley feels that becoming a trainer would be the “natural progression” following his successful roles as jump jockey and bloodstock agent.

While the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle-winning rider, who lives at Sparsholt, near Wantage, is reticent about his exact plans should he be granted a licence, he is looking forward to the challenge.

“I can’t say anything until I’ve gone through all my modules and everything,” said Bradley, who started the course yesterday.

“I’ve done my NVQ in horse management and have three modules to do, but things are very much up in the air.

“I’ve got to have a meeting with the BHA (British Horseracing Authority).

“It’s just a natural progression really. It would be a big challenge and is something I’ve been thinking about and planning for a while.

“There’s lots of water to go under the bridge and lots of things to do before it comes to fruition.”

As well as his great triumphs in the saddle, Bradley, 52, who retired from race-riding in 1999, has been one of jump racing’s most controversial characters.

He was warned off for five years for passing information to Brian Wright at a time when he was building a new career as a successful bloodstock agent. His ban ended in 2009.

Now he is hoping some of the many things he learned from riding for many leading trainers will rub off on him.

“I’ve learned a lot from some proper geniuses. I rode winners for all three of the Dickinsons (Tony, Monica and Michael),” he said.

“I was stable jockey to Paul Nicholls, to Charlie Brooks, rode winners for Toby Balding, David Elsworth – he’s an absolute genius – David Murray-Smith, Jim Old.

“I’ve learnt a lot talking to them and I’ve been around horses all my life.”