So you fancy yourself as a budding jockey then? Well, there are a whole range of ways you can turn your dream into reality and maybe one day you will be the next Frankie Dettori?

Becoming A Jockey - Where To Start?

Your first port of call is either the British Racing School (BRS) or the National Horseracing College (NHC). Both venues run courses for 16-22 year olds who are interested in a career in racing.

If you are successful at the interview you will be enable to enrol on a fourteen week programme where you will learn everything from horse riding to yard work.

After the 14 week course the school will find you a full time paid job in a Horse Racing Yard where you can continue your training, start an apprenticeship and complete your Level 2 Diploma (also known as pre-apprenticeship), all fully supported by the racing school.

I Can Ride Already - Can I Go Straight To A Yard?

The short answer to that is no, to become a jockey you must achieve a Level 2 Diploma. This ensures that everyone who rides racehorses is well aware of what they are doing and all of the safety aspects that are involved.

How Easy Is It To Get On The Course?

Just be aware that there are usually 800 applicants for the 200 yearly places each year, so you need to be at the top of your game when it comes to the one-to-one interviews.

If are 16-22 years old and are physically fit you will be invited to one of the school’s selection days where you will partake in a fitness assessment. You don’t actually have to know how to ride!

Really - Why Is That Then?

Some applicants have never even sat on a horse before. The school finds it much easier to teach you how to ride a horse from scratch as you may have picked up some riding bad habits along the way before you arrive.

The most important things you need are fitness and steely determination.

How Much Does It Cost?

Tuition is free for EU/EEA residents. Accommodation and meals for the duration of the course are provided at a cost of £590 for the fourteen week courses.

There is currently a bursary available to cover a percentage of this cost if you come from a low income household.

When Can I Start Working At A Yard?

If you complete the course and reach the required standard you can then start your apprenticeship, which takes around 18 months in total.

And Race Riding - When Can I Start That?

When your boss/trainer believes you are good enough, they will apply for a conditional licence (jump) or apprentice licence (flat) on your behalf.

You then go back to one of the racing schools for two weeks of jockey training. During this fortnight you will undergo a series of tests -fitness tests, riding tests and knowledge based tests about food and nutrition.

This licence allows riders, aged between 16 and 26 to ride against professionals, but with a weight allowance due to your inexperience.

Before you can become a professional jockey, you need to ‘ride out your claim’ (i.e. the weight allowance you receive), which means you need to reach a specified number of winners.

A Conditional Jockey (jumps) can claim a weight allowance of 7lbs until they reach 20 wins, 5lbs until 40 wins and 3lbs until 75 wins. Conditional Jockeys with fewer than 5 wins can also claim an extra 3lbs when riding for their own stable.

An Apprentice Jockey (flat) can claim a weight allowance of 7lbs until they reach 20 wins, 5lbs until 50 wins, 3lbs until 95 wins and special allowances apply in races for Apprentices only.

How Many Jockeys Make The Grade?

Less than 5% of people who enrol on the courses go on to become fully-fledged jockeys. Some people struggle with the weight restrictions while others find the role too demanding.

On the pre-apprenticeship courses, around 75% of students are female but only a handful of women go on to ride out their claim and become a professional jockey – probably 10% or less.

There are only around 150 or so fully licenced professional jockeys in the UK so that alone makes it a difficult occupation to get into whatever your gender.

The British Racing School - Brief Guide

The British Racing School is a purpose built training centre on the outskirts of Newmarket.

The facilities include an indoor school, an outdoor arena, a 2½ furlong round all-weather gallop, seven furlong straight all-weather and grass gallops, 50 acre grass gallops, stalls and schooling fences.

Some of the alumni that have graduated from the school are as follows. You may have seen their names in the daily horse racing betting:

Oisin Murphy (Champion Apprentice Jockey): “The British Racing School was a huge help to me when I moved over from Ireland. The instructors have the students' best interests at heart and it’s the perfect stepping stone into employment.”

Louis Steward (Professional Jockey): “The British Racing School was a very welcoming place to learn, full of enthusiastic teachers who gave me the confidence to fulfil my potential.”

Tom Marquand (Champion Apprentice Jockey): “The BRS has had a huge role to play in helping me become a jockey, starting off on Pony Racing Courses and then with the continued support I receive even to this day. Everybody involved has been nothing but helpful and supportive of taking the right path throughout my career.”

Paul Hanagan (2 time Champion Jockey): “The BRS has had such a huge influence on my career, not only did I get the best education for horse management and riding skills but I also received great care and support after leaving home at the age of 16.”

Luke Morris (Group One winning jockey): “I was very lucky to spend one day a week at the BRS whilst at school. It gave me the perfect grounding for a successful career.”

You can find horse racing odds on upcoming races at 888sport and this is a great way to learn about the industry should you wish to pursue a career in it.

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*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

The Ayr Gold Cup is a 6f handicap race open to horses aged three years or older and is staged at Ayr Racecourse.

The maximum permitted field of 25 is put together from the highest-rated horses entered. Any horses that do not make the race are given the option to run in the consolation races – the Ayr Silver and Bronze Cups.

Since 1980 there have been just three winning favourites of Scotland’s richest handicap race which will make depressing reading for favourite backers. However the favourite last year, Son Of Rest, dead-heated for first place.

A full house go to post this Saturday for this feature Scottish sprint race that goes off at 3.50pm (GMT).

 

Ayr Gold Cup: Trends

• Effect of the draw: 6 winners have had high draws in the past 10 runnings of the race, with three low drawn winners and two middle drawn. Last year’s dead- heat involved two high drawn horses.
• Trainers: Kevin Ryan has trained three of the last 10 Ayr Gold Cups winners, and Andrew Balding has trained two of them.
• Weight: 8 of the last 10 winners have carried between 9st and 9st 10lb. Highland Colori carried 8-13 in 2013 while Baron Bolt carried 8-12 last year.
• Starting Price: The last 10 winners have ranged from last year’s 5-1 dead-heating favourite to 28-1, which happened to be the other dead-heating horse.

 

Ayr Gold Cup 2019: Runners

Mr Lupton

Winner of a Group Two at the Curragh on his seasonal return in May but has struggled in that company since. A first start in a handicap in more than a year may be just the change he needs.

Major Jumbo

Has been holding his own in Group company this term and won a Chester Listed race last month. The drying ground is a concern however according to his trainer, Kevin Ryan.

Bacchus

33/1 winner of the Wokingham in 2018 but has been on a downward spiral ever since. He is hard to make a case for.

Buffer Zone

Convincingly beat 23 rivals in a valuable six-furlong handicap at the Curragh last Sunday and has been well supported in the horse racing betting since.

Laugh A Minute

Did well at Doncaster season and ran with credit at Deauville last time in a French Group 3 race. Drying conditions will certainly be in his favour after a two month break.

Hey Jonesy

Only one win from 16 starts and the suspicion is that he prefers some cut in the ground.

Summerghand

Could be described as the perfect Placepot horse this season but always appears to run into one that is just too good.

Gunmetal

Won the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon last August but is another who keeps finishing towards the rear of field in these big handicaps this season.

Justanotherbottle

Was just denied in the Stewards’ Cup last season and has won a race at Sandown over 5f this term. His form looks rather in and out to be a confident pick.

Air Raid

Won twice at Hamilton in June and then once again in July. Perhaps he saves all his best runs for Scotland?

Merhoob

Somewhat of an all-weather specialist but did spring a surprise at Chester earlier this season in the soft. Conditions will be more than likely against him here.

Intisaab

Versatile handicapper who is no stranger to the Ayr Gold Cup Festival having run here previously. His losing run stretches back 13 races now which is a worry.

Stone of Destiny

Won well at the Shergar Cup meeting and has been running well all year. Well worth a second look in the betting given the form of his trainer.

Angel Alexander

Has been a regular runner at Chester this season and has performed with credit, but there have only been 3 three-year-old winners of this race in the last 25 years.

Good Effort

Acts on a variety of surfaces and won at Newmarket by 2 lengths from Count Otto in August.  Needs to bounce back from a poor run behind Raucous last time.

Gulliver

Travels well into his races in the closing stages when others have cried enough. Ran well behind Buffer Zone last week and should be on the premises again.

Arecibo

Danny Tudhope rides this one for David O’Meara which could easily be a tip in itself. Three decent placed runs in succession should see the four-year-old bang in contention.

Cold Stare

Won last time at Haydock on the soft with all of his three victories coming in similar conditions to that. This race may all happen a bit too quick for him.

Staxton

Usually races up with the pace but is another who will have to buck the poor three-year-old trend in this race. He does boast plenty of strong form however.

George Bowen

Solid handicapper who has won his fair share of races in his time. Worryingly he has not won on the turf now for over a year.

Soldier's Minute

Won a 21-runner handicap at York back in May but has gone off the boil since. Headgear will be applied on Saturday to help him concentrate.

Barbill

Fifth in the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury back in July but has not troubled the judge since an all-weather win at Chantilly last November.

Growl

Appears to have been around forever and pops up when you least expect him to. His Silver Trophy win at Ripon in August was most impressive.

Embour

Creditable 1¼ lengths sixth to Oxted in the Portland at Doncaster last time and a reproduction of that run would see him right in the mix.

Louie de Palma

Has had quite a lengthy break since running a string of decent placed efforts earlier in the season. Has a lovely weight if he can capitalise on it.

 

2019 Ayr Gold Cup: Picks

A very tricky handicap to decipher but given the size of the field and the generous odds on offer, I am going to narrow it down to three against the field.

Arecibo (nap) and Gulliver (nb) have really been knocking on the door in these big autumn races, while Staxton (e/w) could be a decent each-way play at a longer price.

888Sport suggests: Arecibo, Gulliver and Staxton.

 

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Tom Hevezi / AP Photo*

 

With five games played, Liverpool have a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. Manchester City’s surprise defeat to Norwich City has got Reds supporters dreaming of a first English title in the Premier League era.

The table is starting to take shape and five of the top six places are now occupied by the usual suspects – Leicester City are the exception to that rule. The Foxes take on Tottenham Hotspur in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off and that looks a tough contest to call…

Without further ado, it is time to take a look at this weekend’s games. Our football expert has a tasty 10/1 accumulator for punters to get stuck into – scroll down to check out his four favourite Premier League bets.

 

Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur

Leicester have played some brilliant football this season – the Foxes will have felt hard done by to leave Old Trafford with nothing to show for their efforts last weekend. If the hosts play like they did last time out, it wouldn’t be a huge shock to see Leicester win this.

Tottenham squandered another two-goal lead at Olympiakos on Wednesday night and the north London side will be looking to bounce back here. Bringing Heung Min-Son back into the starting line-up could be the difference between success and failure for Spurs…

Both teams are known for their attacking styles and we could see plenty of goals at the King Power Stadium. At 4/7, both teams to score offers incredible value for punters and a rare entertaining early Saturday fixture could be on the cards.

TIP: Both teams to score (4/7)

 

Newcastle United vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Newcastle have scored in four of their five league games this season and that is one of the only positives for Magpies manager Steve Bruce. The first goal in a match like this is always going to be important so Newcastle will be going all out for the opener.

Meanwhile, Brighton haven’t fared much better – picking up five points from their opening five matches. The Seagulls were denied in injury time by Burnley last time out and Brighton will be hoping for a repeat of last season’s 1-0 win at St James’ Park.

This one probably won’t turn out to be a Premier League classic but 4/9 for at least one goal in the first half is worth taking. Home games will be key to Newcastle’s chances of survival while Brighton have enough quality to hurt the Magpies on the break.

TIP: Over 0.5 first half goals (4/9)

 

West Ham United vs Manchester United

West Ham will take plenty of confidence from their second half performance at Aston Villa on Monday night. Reduced to 10 men for the best part of half an hour, West Ham showed grit and determination to claim a point – and they had chances to clinch all three.

Meanwhile, Man United secured a narrow victory over Leicester. The Red Devils rode their luck at times in that clash but a clean sheet will go down well with the Old Trafford faithful. United are likely to come under the cosh at London Stadium on Sunday afternoon…

The 3/4 for West Ham to avoid defeat could turn out to be a huge price. Manuel Pellegrini’s men have gone four Premier League games without defeat since losing to Manchester City on the opening weekend and the hosts will fancy their chances here.

TIP: West Ham to win or draw (3/4)

 

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

Arsenal face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League on Thursday night but Unai Emery may wring the changes for that clash. On paper, the Gunners should prove too strong for Villa but Arsenal cannot afford to take the visitors lightly.

Aston Villa were hopeless on Monday night and the newly promoted side have struggled in the early stages of the campaign. With four goals scored in five Premier League games, the visitors have a poor record in the final third and that may come back to haunt them.

Am I really going to trust the Arsenal defence to keep a clean sheet? The answer to that is: yes. The Gunners are 9/5 to win to nil and that might turn out to be the bet of the weekend. Villa were poor on Monday night and Arsenal can put them to the sword in this clash.

TIP: Arsenal to win to nil (9/5)

 

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Rui Vieira / AP Photo*

There are certain people in football that had a knack for a great quote. Brian Clough and Jose Mourinho are the first two faces that come to mind with ‘funniest football quotes’, aren’t they?

Whether player, manager or pundit, people around football have produced some pretty extraordinary quotes over the years.

Some are witty, some are comical and others are unintentionally side-splitting. There’s a mix of tongue-in-cheek jibes, muddled sentences and a healthy portion of ego (yes, looking at you Jose).

At 888sport, it’s not just about the latest football odds, we’ve collected a list of the funniest football quotes, too. We’ve got Mourinho, Clough, Bob Paisley and more…

Ron Atkinson gets confused:

“I’m going to make a prediction, it could go either way.”
 

Bryan Robson's unique insight:

“If we played like this every week, we wouldn’t be so inconsistent.”
 

Jurgen Klopp has some regrets:

“The problem with my life is that I’ve said too much s**t in the past and no-one forgets it.”
 

Graeme Souness on how league football works:

“If you're going to win the Premier League, you're going to have to finish ahead of Chelsea and Manchester City.”
 

Sir Bobby Robson on... monks:

“We don’t want our players to be monks. We want them to be better football players because a monk doesn’t player football at this level.”
 

Sam Allardyce on Jose Mourinho after West Ham's draw with Chelsea:

“I don’t give a sh*te to be honest. He can’t take it, can he? He can’t take it because we’ve out-tactic-ed him, out-witted him. He just can’t cope. He can tell me all he wants.

"I love to see Chelsea players moaning at the referee, trying to intimidate the officials, and Jose jumping up and down in his technical area. It’s great to see.”
 

Bob Paisley mocks Everton:

“When I’ve nothing better to do, I look down the league table to see how Everton are getting along.”

Brian Clough on long-ball football:

“If God had wanted us to play football in the sky, he’d have put grass up there.”

 

Dion Dublin diagnosing an injury:

“Sandro’s holding his face, from that you can tell it’s a knee injury.”

 

Rafael Benitez on Chelsea in 2007:

"If Chelsea are naive and pure then I'm Little Red Riding Hood."
 

Michael Owen contradicting himself:

“What a shot! That’s completely unstoppable, but the keeper’s got to do better for me.”

 

Louis van Gaal on desire:

“We have to keep the ball better and we have to move the ball quicker – that’s always what we have to do. Desire… it is a great word. I often use the word “horny” with my players.”

 

Jose Mourinho on the transfer market:

“It is omelettes and eggs. No eggs – no omelettes! It depends on the quality of the eggs.

"In the supermarket you have class one, two or class three eggs and some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelettes. So when the class one eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot go there, you have a problem.”

 

Bill Shankly on the importance of football:

“Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude, I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”

 

Brendan Rodgers' self-analysis:

“My biggest mentor is myself because I’ve had to study and that’s been my biggest influence.”

Sir Alex Ferguson on Phil Jones' career:

“[Phil] Jones, arguably the way he is looking, could be our best ever player. I think Jones may be one of the best players we have ever had, not matter where we play him.

"At 21 years of age, he is going to be a phenomenal player. I think he can play anywhere on the pitch.”

 

Bill Shankly mocks Everton:

“If Everton were playing down the bottom of my garden, I’d draw the curtains.”

 

Ron Atkinson on the officials after West Brom lose to Red Star Belgrade in 1979:

“I never comment on referees and I'm not going to break the habit of a lifetime for that prat.”

 

Jose Mourinho announced as Chelsea manager in 2004:

"Please don’t call me arrogant, but I’m European champion and I think I’m a special one.”

 

Brian Clough being as modest as ever:

“I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the business, but I was in the top one.”