Ralph Fiennes to play Sir Henry Cecil in new movie

Oscar nominee Ralph Fiennes is to play Sir Henry Cecil in a biopic of the legendary Newmarket trainer’s life and the career of his greatest horse Frankel.

Fiennes will star as the late trainer as well as serve as executive producer on the film, which is being lined up to shoot next year and is to be directed by BAFTA winner Nora Fingscheidt with the screenplay written by Bash Doran, who has worked on the likes of Boardwalk Empire.

“I knew nothing about the legendary Henry Cecil until I read Bash Doran’s screenplay,” Fiennes told www.deadline.com. “I was compelled and moved by it and by Henry’s story with the great horse Frankel.

“Henry was — and still is — a unique figure, complex and competitive in the very specific world of horse racing. I’m particularly excited to be collaborating with Nora Fingscheidt. I was blown away by her film The Outrun.”

Cecil, who died from cancer in June 2013, was one of racing’s greatest handlers and was crowned champion trainer 10 times, but the film will concentrate as much on his brilliance as it does his personal struggles.

The Newmarket trainer battled issues with alcohol, heartbreak, tabloid scandal, health crises and falling out with the industry’s most powerful owner Sheikh Mohammed.

He returned to the top with Frankel between 2010-12 with the colt, now one of the best stallions in the world, who went unbeaten throughout his career winning 10 Group One races.