05 January 2024 , 20:22
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Charlotte Jones has a bachelor of science degree but she is wedded to a career as a professional jump jockey.
The 28-year-old from Barrow-in-Furness is two winners away from riding out her claim as a conditional rider.
And every single one of her 73 winners have been for Cumbrian trainer Jimmy Moffatt.
Moffatt; a Cheltenham Festival winner as both a jockey and a trainer, has been a staunch ally of Jones through thick and thin.
Lately the winners have been coming thick, and fast, with Jones riding a double at Aintree for her boss on Boxing Day.
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“I had my first ride in 2016 and I can’t actually believe I am close to losing my claim,” she said. “It’s been a long haul but it will be a recognised achievement.
“I’ve only worked for Jimmy. I’m in the yard every single day. I have always grafted so I have probably earned his support more than anything and it’s nice that it’s been rewarded.
“I have always wanted to ride competitively and I will always be grateful for being given that opportunity.”
The bulk of Jones’s winners have come at local track Cartmel and Hexham but recent results have shown the duo have been operating with a better calibre of horse.
“The Aintree double was the highlight of my career,” said Jones. “I had a feeling Union Avenue would run well in the bumper and it was nice that Bingoo could prove himself in a better race.
“Jimmy has said that Lunar Discovery, who was second in a Listed race last time, is potentially the best he has trained but there are probably a handful like that in the yard.”
Jones had no background in racing. Her mother works in the physio department at a hospital and her father was a plumber.
“I always wanted to ride and was at a trekking centre aged six and progressed from there,” she explained.
“But after school I wanted to be a physio but couldn’t get into the NHS so I stayed in education and did a degree in equine science for three years.
“I was fascinated by the equine athlete. In the summer I went for work experience at Jimmy’s and at the end of that he offered me the chance to have my jockey licence and here we are are.”
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Trainer Jimmy Moffatt: staunch supporter of Charlotte Jones (Liverpool Echo)Last February Jones became the first jockey to suffer a disqualification for breaching the BHA’s new whip rules after she was deemed to have struck Lunar Discovery 11 times, four over the limit, when finishing second in a race at Ayr.
“I’m not really a whip jockey,” she said. “The pressure was on a bit. I was 2-1 favourite and they were tickles more than anything. Every one was in the backhand.
“People couldn’t believe that happened to me. It was hard to take because I was being called an animal abuser and that’s far from the truth.”
Jones hopes to reach the 75-winner milestone this month and will then set about realising her other ambitions.
“Goal-wise I just want to keep getting better,” she said. “I’ve got a big race win now after Aintree.
“I’d like a Cheltenham Festival winner, I’d like an Aintree Festival winner, as every jockey would. I want to be able to compete at the top table and show that you don’t have to be from a racing background.
“I’d also like to inspire more girls into the sport. If I can inspire one young girl to do what I can then I’ll be happy.”