SINCE Dick Francis passed away in 2010, a few ‘celebrity’ authors have tried to fill the void by producing racing thrillers. John Francome, Richard Pitman and even A.P. McCoy have had a go, but perhaps it’s time to give a chance to someone who has a background in journalism.

Guy Butchers spent 10 years as a journalist and also worked for the International Racing Bureau in Newmarket some years ago. In more recent years, Guy has worked in the racehorse transport game and the music industry.

Now he has returned to racing to write Stress Point, the first in a trilogy of racing thrillers, in which “science, metallurgy, international intrigue and the shadows of the Cold War all contribute to a thriller that reaches well beyond the racetrack”.

Guy has a bit of a racing pedigree too. His father Bob was a jockey and Daily Mirror racing correspondent, while his uncle Don trained Saffron Tartan to win the 1961 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“Most racing thrillers written by outsiders miss how the real machinery of breeding, sales and racing actually works,” Guy told us.

“I wanted to write something that captures the authentic grit and high stakes from the inside.”

Stress Point (£9.99) is available on Amazon or through Guy’s website.

Web: guybutchers.com