Jockey James Best retrained as a lorry driver before surprise ITV double
Jockey James Best set the wheels in motion for a new career – before a surprise big race double thrust him into the spotlight.
National Hunt racing's respected weighing room veteran spent years travelling up and down the country for a handful of rides each day.
Accustomed to long hours in a vehicle, 33-year-old Best decided to train as a lorry driver before the 2023-4 season stepped up a gear. Future plans were put on hold when My Silver Lining, carrying his mother-in-law Celia Djivanovic's colours, gave him a career high at Warwick in January.
His delight at the Classic Chase display was followed by a Grade One breakthrough aboard exuberant Sandown front-runner Nickle Back.
"It was an unbelievable three weeks," said Best, who has ridden in 3,807 races over a 15-year period. "I feel very lucky – it meant the world to be given the opportunity to ride these good horses."
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Before plying his trade as a freelance, Best used to work alongside champion jockey Richard Johnson at Philip Hobbs' stable.
In 2019 he made Becher Chase history over the Grand National course, riding its first back-to-back winner Walk In The Mill. Averaging 17 victories a season, father-of-two Best felt it was the right time to consider life out of the saddle.
Nickle Back led all the way at Sandown and is set to run at Aintree's Grand National meeting (PA)"I was looking at my options as I've been around a long time now," said the Cornwall-born sportsman, who travelled 178 miles to Huntingdon after his Aintree heroics four years ago, then a further 327 for a chance at Musselburgh.
"I thought it would be good to go for my lorry licence through JETS, they are brilliant for helping jockeys retrain. You never know what's around the corner – and I've had my best season for riding quality horses."
Aintree is next on the agenda for Nickle Back, who jumped for fun in the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase. Visibly thrilled to make more headlines, Best gave the two-miler's trainer Sarah Humphrey a day to remember.
The 33-year-old, pictured after winning the 2023 Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Handicap Chase on Moroder, travels the UK for race-riding opportunities (PA)However there was a tragic postscript to the race on February 3, as Sir Alex Ferguson's horse Hermes Allen could not be saved after a fall. The outcome was a stark contrast to Best's immediate post-race joy in an interview with ITV Racing.
"I had no idea what was happening behind me," he said.
"I heard about Hermes Allen when I came back in, it was extremely sad and I wanted to pass on my commiserations to his connections."
Best and My Silver Lining travel to Haydock today for their next major assignment, the Virgin Bet Grand National Trial over 3m 4f.
"We try to get into a nice rhythm and she gallops all day," he added. "Just what you want in a staying chaser."
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