Category: Jockey News
24-05-2016
The Amateur Jockeys Association are delighted to welcome the return of the popular Betfair Novice Flat Amateur Series for the fourth consecutive year. The Series is open to amateur jockeys who are members of the AJA and who at the * start of the 2016 Flat Season have ridden no more than 3 winners under the Rules of Racing (both Jump and Flat). This excludes Point-to-Point and Arab racing wins.
* Please note: The Flat Season runs in any year from the day the Lincoln Handicap is programmed until the afternoon the November Handicap is programmed, or such earlier or later dates as the British Horseracing Authority shall decide. In 2016, the Flat Season runs from April 2nd up to and including November 5th.
The Amateur Jockeys Association manage the series in consultation with the British Horseracing Authority. In addition Tim Reed, Jockey Coach based at the Northern Racing College near Doncaster, will be in attendance to walk the course with the participating jockeys before and to offer help and advice with a de-brief after each race.
Points are awarded to riders with 5 points for the winner, 3 for second, 2 for third and Also-rans awarded 1 point each. (No participating jockey’s name is excluded from these tables!) In addition to winning connections being presented with Betfair trophies after each race, the winning series jockey is presented with the Betfair Novice Flat Amateur Series Trophy. Races are scheduled to take place as follows:
13th July Catterick Bridge
20th July Leicester
27th July Redcar
7th August Windsor
12th August Nottingham
17th August Carlisle
22nd August Thirsk
29th August Ripon
Harry Phillips of Betfair commented today “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Betfair Amateur series for a fourth consecutive year. The programme provides a platform for aspiring young amateur jockeys to launch their career and we are proud to support it.”
Tim Reed, Jockey Coach, said “I am looking forward to being involved in another Betfair Series for amateur jockeys which can really make a positive contribution to the future of their riding careers.”
Sarah Oliver, CEO of the AJA, said “Year on year this series proves itself as a launching pad for the careers of young amateurs, many of whom often finding it hard to get rides until they have gained experience. Thanks to the generosity of Betfair’s sponsorship, 2016 sees the series continue to offer race riding opportunities together with education and training for amateur jockeys, and for that we are extremely grateful.”
22-05-2016
Congratulations to Brodie Hampson on a great start to the new jumps season with a double today at Fakenham!
The first of her winners was aboard her late father Mark’s FORT GEORGE trained by Sally Randell when she denied victory to Champion Jockey Dickie Johnson in the 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards Handicap Chase for the Prince of Wales Cup. She followed this up with a win over hurdles in the last race of the day, the Aylsham Show Lady Amateur Riders Handicap Hurdle aboard LEE SIDE LADY for Neil Mulholland.
Well done Brodie who now heads the table for the Ladies Jump Championship for 2016/17!
21-05-2016
Congratulations to our newly crowned Jump Champions David Noonan and Bryony Frost pictured above either side of Champion Jockey Dickie Johnson last night at Stratford, flanked by runners up Stan Shepherd and Gina Andrews. Gina shares the runner up position with Cath Walton. Well done all! Many thanks as always to Stratford Racecourse for allowing us to make these presentations on the last night of the amateur jumps season. The new 2016/17 amateur jump season begins today!
18-05-2016
This Friday evening 20th May sees the finale of the 2015/2016 amateur jump season kindly hosted as always by Stratford Racecourse.
The gentlemen’s championship has been won by David Noonan (above) on 19 wins – an incredible achievement considering that David turned conditional before Christmas!
Stan Sheppard (above) has put in a great effort at denying David the championship and is currently on 15 wins with the runner-up slot safely secured, having ridden 2 winners last week with Maxi Chop in a Hunterchase at Fontwell for Rose Loxton the day after he scored at Worcester for his father Matt with Modeligo over fences. Stan’s nearest rival is Michael Legg who has had an incredible season and is currently on 11. James King rode no less than 3 winners last week so deserves a mention too in the closing stages of the season:
* David Noonan 19
Mr Stan Sheppard 15
Mr Michael Legg 11
* Sam Coltherd 9
Mr Zac Baker 6
Mr James King 5
Mr Tommie O’Brien 5
The ladies championship is a much closer battle with Bryony Frost (below) currently leading the girls on 7 wins.
Catherine Walton (below) won a Hunterchase at Perth last week on Mister Marker for Nicky Richards which took her to 6 wins and last night Gina Andrews joined her in the runner-up slot following her Hunterchase win at Huntingdon on Hill of Gold for David Kemp.
Brodie Hampson is next in line with 5 wins. Friday night’s racing at Stratford Races could change the final ranking for the ladies so here is wishing good luck to all!
Miss Bryony Frost 7
Ms Gina Andrews 6
Ms Catherine Walton 6
Miss Brodie Hampson 5
Ms Nina Carberry 4
Huge congratulations to all amateur jump jockeys who have ridden winners this season! The new season starts on Saturday.
19-04-2016
Many congratulations to Sam Coltherd who enjoyed a double yesterday at Hexham Racecourse to take his tally of wins for the season to 9.
His first ride of the afternoon was on SUPRISE VENDOR for his trainer father Stuart, comprehensively out jumping his 7 rivals to win the 2 mile Handicap Chase with ease.
By contrast, the 14 year old OCKEY DE NEULLIAC looked to be the comfortable winner of the Hunterchase when jumping the last, only to weaken nearing the line!
He just held on to win by a neck and deny Kit Alexander and WICKLOW LAD.
Sam’s season’s tally of 9 winners so far takes him to join Michael Legg in 3rd place in this season’s rankings for the men’s Jump Championship. Well done Sam!
13-04-2016
Congratulations to amateur jockey Michael Legg who won this afternoon when riding Voix D’Eau against professional jockeys for Harry Fry in the Teenage Cancer Silver Trophy Chase at Cheltenham. A great ride!
Interestingly, 2 years ago today Michael rode Thistlecrack to win the bumper at Wincanton!
Well done Michael!
12-04-2016
Many congratulations to Stan Sheppard who increased his winning total for the season to 12 on Grand National day at Chepstow on Saturday when partnering his father’s HILL FORT riding against professionals in the Handicap Hurdle. Holding his horse up in the early stages of the race, he closed in on the leaders from 5 out to draw upsides 2 hurdles from home and run on strongly, winning by a comfortable margin of 8 lengths.
With 5 weeks of the season remaining, an exciting fight for the title could be on the cards for Stan, the only other gentleman amateur to have hit double figures this season. Here are the current top places:
| * David Noonan |
19
|
| Mr Stan Sheppard |
12
|
| Mr Michael Legg |
8
|
| Mr Sam Coltherd |
7
|
| Mr Zac Baker |
5
|
| Mr Tommie O’Brien |
5
|
| Mr James Nixon |
4
|
| Mr Harry Reed |
4
|
| Mr Ryan Winks |
4
|
Meanwhile the ladies table looks like this:
| Miss Bryony Frost |
7
|
| Ms Gina Andrews |
5
|
| Miss Brodie Hampson |
5
|
| Miss Catherine Walton |
5
|
| Ms Nina Carberry |
4
|
Good luck all!
01-03-2016
The 2015-16 All-Weather Amateur Championship has been somewhat unusual thanks to the introduction mid-season by the BHA of some special conditions to several races within the Racing Calendar, thereby ruling many races out of our usual All-Weather Championship. The idea of these new races was to give more opportunities to novice riders who might not otherwise have the chance of a ride and these training races proved to be useful for that purpose.
A new later finishing date for the season had been considered to coincide with the professional end of season at Lingfield. However, with so much disruption already to our season, the usual date of Wolverhampton’s meeting on 22nd February seemed the obvious and best date for the conclusion.
It was good to see what was to prove to be the last race of the season divided, with Division I won by Will Pettis, fresh from his winner of a novice riders’ race at Lingfield only 3 days earlier. He had enjoyed winning at Lingfield with PAO DE ACUCA for Jose Santos, making all to score by 6 lengths, and the winning partnership maintained their winning ways at Wolverhampton to score again, this time by 3 lengths. Division II was won by Alex Edwards with STORYTALE for Dave Roberts, using completely different tactics in holding up his horse and making steady headway from 3 furlongs out to lead near the finish and score by half a length.
The only jockey to enjoy 3 wins on the All-Weather this season (as well as placed rides) has been multiple winning Champion Jockey Simon Walker and many congratulations go to him for another Championship won with 21 points. His old adversary Serena Brotherton is to be congratulated on her runner-up slot having enjoyed 2 wins this season (as well as placed rides) giving her 13 points. Many congratulations also to Ryan Bird (2 wins), Georgina Friswell (2 wins), and Tom Greatrex, Ross Birkett, Patrick Millman, Chelsea Banham, Aly Deniel, William Easterby, Alex Edwards, Toby Eley, Brodie Hampson, Ellie MacKenzie, Joe Morris, Will Pettis and Frankie Pullar (all with 1 win) who have all enjoyed winning races open to all jockeys. We applaud you!
24-02-2016
Many congratulations to Will Pettis on riding a 66/1 winner on Friday at Lingfield with PAO DE ACUCA for Jose Santos in the novice riders’ race and then following up with the same horse on Monday when riding against the experienced amateurs! What a partnership! Will is current reigning Arabian Novice Jockey Champion and clearly his experience gained over last summer is paying dividends. Well done Will!
24-02-2016
The AJA are delighted to announce that The Arabian Racing Organisation have kindly offered complimentary ARO jockey licences to all amateur jockeys who currently hold a BHA Category A or B licence for 2016.
Current Arabian Champion Jockeys Simon Walker, Page Fuller and Will Pettis are also well known for their successes both under Rules and point-to-pointing.
The AJA really appreciate ARO’s kind gesture and hope that not only will it benefit both organisations by working in closer partnership but that also it will serve to encourage more amateur jockeys to become involved and support Arabian racing which offers a full calendar across many racecourses this summer.
For more information on this year’s ARO fixtures please visit: www.aroracing.co.uk/events/
