Cheltenham jockey who quit school at 15 now gets praise from McCoy and Walsh

12 March 2023 , 20:00

688     0

Dame Du Soir was one of Lilly Pinchin's Cheltenham winners this season (Image: Getty)

From the rebellious teen who quit school at 15 to go racing, Lilly Pinchin has gone the distance.

Ruby Walsh and AP McCoy have been among those praising one of the most talked about talents of the season. As a child, Lilly whizzed around Cheltenham's twists and turns for a win on her pony Magical Toffee.

Now she is raring to go for the 2023 Festival, riding her recent course scorer Hector Javilex in the Pertemps Final.

"Cheltenham is an amazing place – and I live ten minutes down the road," said the Cotswolds resident. "Coming to the last hurdle at the Festival you can really hear the crowd, it's a fantastic vibe.

"Anything can happen and that's the magic thing about it."

Harry Cobden says winning Cheltenham ride on Il Ridoto did not deserve ban

Lilly had the same opinion when she turned her back on education to kickstart her race-riding career. She learned the ropes at Fergal O'Brien's stable, sweetening up the yard's schoolmasters in point-to-points.

Lilly Pinchin is reunited with Hector Javilex in the Pertemps Final (Getty Images)

Lilly was overjoyed by her first hunter chase winner at Prestbury Park, aged 17 – and she moved across the Cotswolds to work for Graeme McPherson. But while she was swinging along in the conditional ranks, disaster struck – and the animal lover had to start again from scratch.

"I broke my back and two ribs in a fall at Chepstow," the 24-year-old said. "It was when Rachael Blackmore won the Grand National, I watched it from my hospital bed.

"The injuries were tough to deal with and I was out for six months."

On her return, McPherson had joined forces with his neighbour O'Brien, so Lilly spied another local opportunity with Richard Hobson. She spent time with him in France, where he once sourced 22-time Grade 1 record-breaker Hurricane Fly.

"Richard changed my riding, sharpened me up and gave me the confidence to propel myself as a jockey," Lilly said. "While I was in his lorry coming back from the races I rang Charlie Longsdon to see if I could ride out. And here we are."

Their partnership was the catalyst to Lilly's 21 triumphs this season, vindicating the decision to pack away her school books and pens. Back from a five-week injury lay-off, just in time for National Hunt's greatest spectacle – and she can hardly wait.

"I'm dying to get back on the track, I've missed it so much," she said. "Hector Javilex is a special horse, he's improving and I see no reason why he can't be in the shake-up."

Melissa Jones