THERE is plenty of glitz and glamour in this sport.
But today I head off across the A1 on a four hour round-trip to Leicester for Ladies Day! I promise there are no two days alike.
Billy Loughnane is looking to make quick gains up the jockey championship with a book of rides away from the big meetings[/caption]
You always want to get booked at the main cards on a Saturday — like Lingfield or Ascot today — but if your boss wants you to ride one elsewhere you base your day around that.
George was very keen to run CALAFIORI (5.25 Leicester) again and that is more or less the sole reason for my trip.
It was all way too much for him on debut but if he shows us what he has been doing at home then he should be up to this.
If anything this is a weaker race than we found him on debut and he’s definitely forward enough to win a race like this.
You don’t want to be away from the main meetings every weekend but it can work in your favour as well, especially when going for the title.
A lot of jockeys will be at Ascot and Lingfield with a few rides but, by going to places like Leicester, I can get a near full book of rides and hopefully come away with a couple of winners.
With the championship done the way it is — on the number of winners and not prize money — you have to play the long game so the odd trip to the smaller tracks is no bad thing.
I’d been on a bad run recently so it was great to ride a double at Wolverhampton on Tuesday.
It was a bit of a relief but I’m not a jockey who goes overboard over these spells.
You have these periods — but you also have stretches where every horse you sit on suddenly wins so it is swings and roundabouts.
I’m not throwing my gear around in the changing room or anything like that!
Back to today and INDIAN SPIRIT (7.30) is another who should go close.
I ride out for Charlie Hills every now and then so it’s good to get on one of his.
He has solid form and this is a weak enough maiden.
Dark Tornado is the one to beat but I give my horse a shout. He’s fit and ready to go.
Ian Williams has booked me for three. He was a big reason I was champion all weather jockey this winter.
Hopefully we can keep up the relationship through the summer.
It’s not high level stuff but BEAUZON (6.00), HALIPHON (6.30) and MR TRICK (8.30) are all handicapped to win.
Mr Trick has his own way of doing things but if his mind is on it he can go close.
With these lower level horses, a lot of it is what’s between the ears and whether they fancy it on the day! Fingers crossed they do!
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