THE AMATEUR JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN
15-01-2018
Diary reminder: AJA AGM (originally planned for Monday 4th December) takes place on Tuesday 6th February to maximise attendances.
The AGM will take place in The Oak Room, The Welcombe Hotel, Warwick Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 0NR at 12 noon and all AJA members are welcome.
ALL AJA members are welcome but please e-mail sph.oliver@btinternet.com if you plan to attend in order for catering to be booked.
03-01-2018
Are you hoping to ride at this year’s Cheltenham Festival or Aintree but need your Cat B licence?
The 22-26 January Rider Assessment course is virtually full but there are a few spaces on the 12-16 February course.
Please note: This is the LAST CHANCE for applicants to complete Category B training prior to Cheltenham Festival and Aintree. The next course is to be held at the BRS on 14-18 May.
For all queries regarding this please call Henry Bradley at BHA Licensing on 0207 152 0140.
01-01-2018
Any amateur jockeys with a view to turning conditional in the near future should be aware that a Conditional Jockeys Licence Course is taking place from 19th February until 2nd March at the British Racing School. In order to attend, applicants must successfully complete one of the Pre-Assessment days:
Brand new Conditionals and Category ‘A’ Amateurs who wish to turn Conditional must attend the full two weeks of the Licence Course. Category ‘B’ Amateurs only have to attend the second week of the Course.
After February there will not be another Conditional Course until August 2018! Any Amateurs who are thinking about applying for a Conditional Licence in the next month or two, must submit applications to BHA Licensing as soon as possible!
If you have any queries please call Max Milward on 0207 152 0145.
21-12-2017
Ludlow Racecourse hosted the Tanners Prosecco Handicap Hurdle for lady riders at their Christmas meeting on 20th December with 9 going to post.
Isabel Williams and PRUSSIAN EAGLE led in the early stages together with Jodie Hughes on ASCENDANT. As they approached 3 out, Ireland’s Aine O’Connorbegan to close in on the leaders with her brother-in-law Harry Fry’s LITTERALE CI and despite hitting the last stayed on to win by 4 lengths, with Isabel 2nd and Jodie 4 1/2 lengths 3rd.
Many congratulations to Aine and winning connections.
Photo credits: AJA
20-12-2017
The racinguk.com Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle at Catterick on 19th December was comfortably won by James King for Jennifer Mason on OSKAR DENARIUS, with Ella Mccain 2nd and Aaron Anderson3rd.
Always prominent, Oskar Denarius led before the 6th flight and was clear when surviving hitting the last to go on and win by 12 lengths.
Many congratulations to James and to winning connections.
18-12-2017
Iain Jardine brought ARCHIPELIGO down from Carrutherstown to Wolverhampton for the Betway Amateur Riders’ Handicap on 18th December and Bruce Lynn enjoyed a thrilling win denying Becky Smith by a neck!
Well done Bruce!
18-12-2017
Southwell was the scene of the www.hall-fast.com Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle on 17th December and well done to Noel George who won for his father Tom George when winning aboard DANDY DUKE.
Holding his horse up, Noel made headway from about three out and shook up Dandy Duke to take the lead as they approached the last and stay on to win by one and a half lengths.
Congratulations
18-12-2017
A great day for amateurs at Hereford on 16th December with not only Lorna Brooke winning aboard SPOCK but also Lorcan Williams winning the Central Roofing and Building Services Ltd Notices’ Chase, with WORK IN PROGRESS for Dan Skelton.
A three runner race, Lorcan was able to take advantage of the untidy jump of the last by favourite Ozzie The Oscar to lead soon after and drive his horse out to score by a length and a quarter. Well done Lorcan and winning connections!
15-12-2017
Congratulations to Abbie McCain on a great ride today at Bangor when riding against professionals and making all to go on to win by a length and a half with her father Donald McCain’s TAWSEEF in the Alfa Aggregate Products Golden Spurs Handicap Hurdle. Well done Abbie!
10-12-2017
Many congratulations to leading gentleman amateur jockey Zac Baker for a fantastic win this afternoon with Ben Bens when victorious at Sandown.
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies had already watched Blaklion with the Becher Chase at Aintree for the same owners which made the 12-year old’s victory even more remarkable.
A delighted Zac said following the race “The amount of sweating I’ve done to take this ride! He was just amazing. It’s awesome – quite possibly the best ride I’ve been given. I had 10 stone 9 lb which was a real struggle on Wednesday, so to do 10 stone 8 lb made it all worth it as we didn’t win far! The ground was perfect for him, we got the lead, yet he wasn’t doing a tap in front. Aidan came to me on the bend but I just flew. I was very long at the last but he came up for me and that won it. George will probably ring on the way home and my mum and dad are here – its massive. its one of my favourite tracks and I’ve finally ridden a winner here.”
Well done Zac! A great achievement.