Mike Drowne talks to Harry Skelton, who is hot on the champ’s heels this winter
The pair have been pretty much neck and neck through the summer jumping season but the gap is sure to open up again now the real winter action gets going.
Johnson knows how that feels having chased AP in second place for so many years. Now the boot is on Skelton’s foot but he doesn’t seem to mind. The lack of outside rides is his main problem.
Last season Johnson had 1026 mounts, double the amount the 28-year-old had and the senior man has already partnered 100 more horses then Skelton this term.
Reflecting on challenging for the title, he said: “Catching Dickie is pretty unrealistic, quite frankly I see no chance of that, if I could hold my pitch in second that would be brilliant.
“I’d love to be champion jockey one day. It’s very hard I don’t get many outside rides, I’m in seven days a week at home, I concentrate on that, make sure that goes right. That’s my priority.”
Success has not come easily for Skelton, after a successful spell riding for Paul Nicholls and landing the Irish Grand National at the age of 19, his career began to go downhill.
After splitting with Nicholls and losing his claim, he struggled to get rides and in 2012-2013 only managed to ride eight winners. Reflecting on the tough times, Skelton said: “I came to Paul’s and got legged up on a lot of nice horses and to not have that wasn’t very nice, you thought one day you were good enough for the job then the next maybe you weren’t.
Denne historien er fra November 2017-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
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Denne historien er fra November 2017-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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CAL'S UP TO TOP SPEED
John Anthony keeps close watch on the top ranking track fliers
ACTION REPLAY
Graham Buddry recalls the exploits of legendary hurdler Large Action
SHADOW IN THE LIMELIGHT
lan Heitman follows the fortunes of next year’s leading Classic prospects
GONE WILDE
Rolf Johnson fears the effects of a thoroughbred market bubble’
DIGGING OUT THE JUMPERS
The former Sky Racing frontman is all geared up for the change of codes and clothing
MORE AMO FOR RALPH
Dave Youngman shares the joy and gossip from the Newmarket gallops
GO COSMIC NEXT YEAR
Andy Ayres shares his pick of punting prospects from the autumn action
NICO'S CAREER LEAP TO GLORY
Nick Townsend talks to Nico de Boinville about his life-changing choices
ALL SET FOR FRESH START
Karl Hedley is on the spot for the new season action across Ireland
DAN'S GRAND BID DAWNING
Paul Ferguson tracks a route for Skeltons from Carlisle to Aintree