Why the other jockeys love Jamie Moore

In the parade ring just after Sire De Grugy had won this year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase, I found myself among a group of jockeys who had run out of the weighing room jostling and joshing like a bunch of schoolkids. They had, though, a serious purpose: they had emerged to pay tribute to one of their own, the winning rider Jamie Moore. Daryl Jacob, Aidan Coleman, ‘Choc’ Thornton and half a dozen others climbed on each other’s shoulders to cheer him in. I asked Daryl, why such a rare public honour? ‘It’s just that Jamie’s such a great guy from such a great family,’ he replied. Said Choc, ‘He’s ridden here 70 times without a winner and this is special. He’s a top guy.’ (Such a modest one, too, that Jamie firstly took a seat in the audience, not on the platform for the post-race press conference.)

The chief organiser of the paddock tribute, appropriately, was the hottest talent among today’s up-and-coming riders, trainer’s son Sam Twiston-Davies. Like the Moores from Sussex, whose racing dynasty was founded by Brighton Pier performer and used-car salesman Charlie Moore, the Cotswold-based Twiston-Davies clan have racing in their DNA. The duffel coat and corduroy style may differ, but they share with the Moores an honesty in the way they run their horses that breeds public loyalty. While Gary and Jamie Moore had their greatest success, the biggest regret for many racing fans at this year’s Festival was that Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies didn’t win the Champion Hurdle with The New One. Tragically, he lost any chance when a horse fell in front of him, but, in what was one of the most mature rides at the meeting, Sam gave The New One time to get back in the race and finish well for an impressive fourth.