Some of the greats of the sport like Sir AP McCoy, Richard Johnson and current champion jockey Brian Hughes have all landed the prestigious title. More recently, Harry Cobden, Bryony Frost and Jonjo O’Neill Jnr have also added their names to the roll of honour. Here we look at some of the main contenders for this year’s conditional jockeys’ championship.
Bradley Harris
As an apprentice at Andrew Balding’s famed racing academy, following the likes of Oisin Murphy and William Buick, Bradley had ambitions to become a Flat jockey. He rode four winners on the level before switching codes, since when his career has really taken off.
The 22-year-old rode 14 winners last season and he has already raced past that tally with the support of Milton Harris. He rides most of the runners saddled by his boss and he repaid that faith when guiding Pyramid Place to victory in the prestigious Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow last month. The 5lbs-claimer’s title chances hinge on Harris enjoying another successful season, but that is entirely possible.
Liam Harrison
There are few, if any, more experienced conditional jockeys than Liam. The 21-year-old lost his weight claim in the early weeks of the season in May when notching up his 75th career victory on Carrigeen Kampala at Newton Abbot.
He has kicked on through the summer and he is now a key player in Fergal O’Brien’s prolific Cotswolds stables. Last season he partnered Punctuation to win in a race restricted to conditional and amateur riders at Aintree’s Grand National meeting. He is likely to get more and more opportunities this winter. Injury prevented Liam from challenging for last season’s conditional jockeys’ championship but he could easily make up for lost time this term.
Toby Wynne
A graduate of pony racing and the point-to-point field, Toby really came of age last season. His 19 winners gave him a springboard ahead of this season. He’s enjoyed a successful summer and will now look to build on it heading into the winter months as his conditional jockeys’ title challenge gathers pace.
The 20-year-old has been given more opportunities by the training partnership of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. His 5lbs weight claim is sure to be exploited by his bosses as they continue to climb the training ranks from their Cheshire base. Toby’s profile is on the rise and that makes him a contender for the conditionals’ championship.
Beau Morgan
Teenage jockey Beau will be aiming to keep this year’s conditionals’ title in the family. Incredibly, his older brother Luca is the reigning champ having ended last season as the top young rider. Beau has impressed throughout the summer. Like his brother, he is attached to the increasingly powerful Cotswolds stable of Ben Pauling.
The 18-year-old rode Twig, owned by his mum Georgia, to victory in the valuable Summer Cup at Uttoxeter in July. His talents are unlikely to go unnoticed among other trainers for too long and that would make him a formidable contender for the conditional’s crown with Pauling sure to provide plenty of ammunition.
Lilly Pinchin
No one can accuse Lilly of not having the steel needed to be a successful jump jockey. She bounced back from six months out injured after fracturing seven vertebrae in a horrific fall to ride a personal best 24 winners last season.
The 24-year-old, who grew up in the Cotswolds, has enjoyed a fruitful summer and she could easily kick on into the winter months with ambitions of joining the race to be champion conditional. The 3lbs-claimer has impressed with her progress and she is likely to get plenty of backing from her boss Charlie Longsdon.
It’s not just horses that animal-loving Lilly has an affinity with. She owns a pet turkey called Trev, who has become something of a social media celebrity.
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