Category: Jockey News
13-11-2009
Riding for his trainer father Nigel, Sam Twiston-Davies partnered RAZOR ROYALE to a great victory in the opener, The Irish Times Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase, at Cheltenham today. His mount relished the testing ground and the pair gave a great display of jumping and galloping.
Front-runner THE SAWYER had STRAWBERRY and FREEZE UP on his heels for the first circuit. Last year’s winner, HOOPY, was towards the rear whilst favourite MY LORD OSCAR was anchored in last by Nina Carberry.On the second circuit the pace quickened, with Freeze Up and Qhilimar moving to the front at the top of the hill. Razor Royale was always travelling ominously well behind and was quickly pursuing Qhilimar before three out.At that fence Razor Royale was left alone in front when Qhilimar blundered in what was a sign of things to come as he fell at the next. By contrast, Razor Royale put in a magnificent jump at the penultimate fence and stretched clear to draw away from his weary rivals with relish. The Sawyer (Mark Wall) was a gallant second, with Mister Apples (Oliver Greenall) back in third.
Many congratulations to Sam and to winning connections on a very special win to remember.
12-11-2009
Matthew Griffiths enjoyed winning the opener at Taunton today, the amateur riders’ handicap hurdle, in fine style for Tony Newcombe on JOCHESKI, making smooth headway to take up the lead 3 from home and stay on well to win by 14 lengths. Ninety minutes later Matthew was revisiting the winner’s enclosure when he scored on FORTIFICATION for Ron Hodges in the 3 mile Handicap Chase. Riding against professionals, Ratification was left clear at the 12th to go on and complete unchallenged. Many congratulations to Matthew on a great day’s racing in which he also finished 2nd with his other ride of the day.
08-11-2009
For the second year in succession Clare MacMahon was victorious in the Anglo/Irish Ladies Challenge Hurdle at Limerick. Unfortunately Kelly Bryson from Scotland had a non-runner but the remaining British team of 5 lady jump jockeys took on the Irish and Lucy Jones was the nearest foreign jockey in the finish with her horse placed 3rd. The girls reunite for a re-match at Newton Abbot in June. Congratulations to Ireland and to Clare!
07-11-2009
Robbie Henderson ran the opposition into the ground on ELLERSLIE GEORGE in the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton today, sensationally giving trainer Nick Mitchell an unforgettable day’s racing following on from THE LISTENER winning at Down Royal only minutes earlier.
Robbie’s father acquired the horse at Doncaster in May when unsold for £20,000 and he won first time out for Robbie at Stratford in September. He then was beaten at Bangor but today’s front running tactics paid off splendidly. His modest rider said afterwards “I didn’t have a choice with that. All I had to do was sit there and he did the work; I was only a passenger.”
Many congratulations to all connections on a fantastic win!
04-11-2009
For the first time ever, the AJA are delighted to announce that our amateur flat champions Serena Brotherton and Simon Walker will be included in the C4 televised end of season Flat Championship presentations to take place this Saturday 7th November.
Simon Walker and Serena Brotherton pictured at Doncaster with Clerk of the Course David Williams
04-11-2009
The annual Anglo/Irish ladies hurdle challenge is eagerly awaited and planned to take place in Limerick on Sunday 8th November. No inspection has been announced but flooding is already causing problems in the area.
This year’s GB team is made up of:
Isabel Tompsett, a vet from South Wales with 12 winners under Rules and 49 point-to-point winners (currently leading this season’s NH ladies jump table with 7 winners already this season);
Gina Andrews, who works in a point-to-point yard and hunts regularly, and has 20 point-to-point wins and 12 wins under Rules (2nd in this season’s NH ladies table with 3 winners already);
Lucy Jones, an accountant who has ridden 3 NH and 16 p-t-p winners and was Ladies National Novice Point-to-Point Champion 2008;
Clare Wills, who has worked for Brendan Powell for 9 years and has had 6 point-to-point wins and 1 under Rules;
Jenny Carr, who has had 2 NH wins under Rules and 16 point-to-point wins and been Area Point-to-Point Champion and last but certainly not least,
Kelly Bryson from Scotland who has had 2 NH wins and 40 point-to-point winners.
The girls face an Irish team of 6 but the biggest danger that we all face is the weather which could put the meeting in jeopardy.
28-10-2009
The Flat season drew to a close today for amateur jockeys with SIMON WALKER securing the gentleman’s championship several weeks ago having forged clear of his rivals and finally completed the season with a magnificent total of 10 wins. MARCUS PRICE was his nearest rival on 3 wins and takes the vice-champion slot. This is no less than Simon’s 6th Gentleman’s Flat Amateur Championship (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) as well as him being the current All-Weather Amateur Champion and is an extraordinary performance.
The ladies title was a less predictable challenge with SERENA BROTHERTON also enjoying a fantastic season and taking both the Ladies Derby at Newbury and the inaugural running of the Ladies Derby at Epsom. However, with three lady jockeys – VICTORIA BARR, WENDY GIBSON and PIP TUTTY – all on a total of 3 winners to Serena’s total of 4 in recent days, there was an exciting end to the season but Serena’s win last Saturday at Newbury of the Frank Osgood Memorial took her total for the season to 5 wins and secured her the third ladies Flat championship of her career (2005, 2006, 2009). This is a terrific achievement for Serena and congratulations must go not only to our 2 new champions but also to all amateur jockeys who have ridden winners this season.
Today at Musselburgh the mixed amateur riders’ race saw the final appearance in the saddle for the time being of past triple lady Flat amateur champion CAROL BARTLEY (2001, 2002 and 2003) as she takes maternity leave from her illustrious career. Carol is the most prolific winning lady Flat amateur jockey holding a licence, with a career total of 52 wins so far.
24-10-2009
Newbury’s Frank Osgood ladies race today, won in fine style by Serena Brotherton to take her to a total of 5 wins this season and 2 clear of her nearest rivals, was not without incident.
Vicky Cartmel, a talented rider with 5 wins in her career including a Bathwick Tyres series win and having her last ride under Rules before taking a break from her riding career, was suspended for trying too hard and also for trying too little on MISTA ROSSA. Having appeared to have ridden the perfect race waiting behind the two leaders, the picture changed in the final furlong when Mista Rossa was tiring and was caught in the last stride by WARNES’S WAY who had been under pressure from the home turn. Vicky was subsequently banned by the Newbury Stewards for 28 days for dropping her hands in the closing stages as well as 4 days for use of the whip earlier in the race, totalling 32 days. This seems an excessive penalty considering that this ban totals virtually the complete number of races in the Flat amateur ladies calendar for next season. Vicky said “Its disappointing to have gone out like this. Hopefully I will be back to race riding one day if an opportunity arises.”
Trainer Hughie Morrison defended Vicky’s ride, saying “Victoria is an amateur rider and she rides very well indeed. The horse was very tired and so was the jockey. You have to remember, these girls don’t get too many opportunities on the racecourse.”
Continue reading VICKY CARTMEL TAKES A BREAK
20-10-2009
On only his 2nd racecourse appearance, 18-year-old Daniel Hiskett rode his first winner under Rules when scoring on LOVE OF TARA for Martin Keighley in the opening amateur riders’ novice hurdle today at Exeter.This followed a great weekend for Daniel when he led up Benbane Head at Cheltenham for his guv’nor and enjoyed seeing him win. Congratulations to Dan on a great start to his career!
16-10-2009
The BHA has announced the introduction of a new whip for jockeys but the good news for amateurs is that they are exempt from this change.
The modified whip, which will include a microchip to allow research into the whip’s cushioning longevity, will be made available to British professional jockeys over the next few months, firstly on the Flat. Modifications have also been made to the grip.
The BHA policy on whip use can be found at: http://www.britishhorseracing.com/inside_horseracing/about/whatwedo/disciplinary/20080807whipuse.pdf
