Conditionals’ prize is ‘massive money’ to a young jockey: Skelton

Although much of the focus on the David Power Jockeys’ Cup has been on the life-changing top prize of £500,000 awarded to the leading rider at the end of Aintree’s Grand National meeting, the impact on younger, less experienced riders will be felt just as much.

That’s the view of the 2020/21 Champion Jockey Harry Skelton, who leads the current Jockeys’ Cup standings with 232 points, and is full of praise for a competition that has made him reflect on his own beginnings in the sport.

The leading conditional jockey receives £25,000, with the runner-up picking up £5,000, and, as with the main prize fund, the trainer and stable staff also receive an additional 10%.

Skelton told Sporting Life in the first of their David Power Jockeys’ Cup podcast series: “When you’re young and coming through, that’s massive money and it will be a big boost for whoever wins.

“It’s prize money that wasn’t in the sport at this time last year – it’s a completely separate pot of money that’s come into racing.”

Dylan Johnston – whose highest-profile win this season came on Lump Sum in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las – may be chasing Freddie Gingell in the Conditional Jockeys’ Championship, but he currently leads him by 12 points in the Jockeys’ Cup standings.

Dylan Johnston
Pic: Focus On Racing/Dan Abraham

Young Irish jockey Johnston finished fourth on his first ride as a conditional in a Thurles bumper in 2018, and credits Stuart Crawford for the experience he gave him in points and under rules, and Skelton believes that improving the point-to-point and amateur riding scene in Britain is crucial to the future of horse racing.

Skelton remembers: “I rode my claim out quick and I was with Paul Nicholls, but [after that] I had one season with eight winners. I wasn’t really ready. I never thought about stopping but I had to keep going, as I’d ridden out my claim and had no experience against older jockeys.

“You have to get that good foundation first. I think it’s a good idea to stay amateur and ride in point-to-points for as long as you can before you’re ready to go and ride on the track.

“We really need to support the point-to-points – I think that’s the big difference between England and Ireland – and we’ve bought some lovely young horses from the likes of Charlie Poste, Tom Ellis and John Dawson.

“People don’t always like change but it’s really important to give young riders a chance on quality horses, which is what we’ve been trying to do with some of our older horses.”

Though thankful for the leg up he received thanks to an illustrious father – then-58-year-old Nick Skelton became the oldest British Olympian gold medalist in 2016 – Harry recalls the hard work of his formative years.

He explained: “I went into racing when I was 16, riding out at Reg Hollinshead’s, and when Dad broke his neck in 2000 that’s when Dan and I decided to go into racing properly.

“Dad and my grandad – who is 94 – are our biggest critics which isn’t exactly what you want to hear when you’ve not given one the greatest ride!

“All I ever wanted to be was Champion Jockey. Luckily it happened and I’m in with a chance of it again this year.”