IT’S Bangor or bust for me as far as my horse racing challenge is concerned.
I can confirm today that I will be donning my silks at the North Wales course on Saturday, May 17, in an after race gallop following the North West Hunter Chase Finals on an actual full card race meeting.
The original plan was for me to race in a behind closed doors bumper at Aintree Racecourse at the end of the month.
But after finally starting my training proper with coach and mentor Will Kinsey this week the possibility of riding at Bangor during a proper meeting proved too good an opportunity to miss.
Kinsey, a professional jockey and assistant trainer at Donald McCain’s stable in Cheshire, may have been helping prepare the likes of Cloudy Lane and Idle Talk for the Grand National most recently, but he now faces the grandstand task of whipping me into shape for the ride of my life.
I have started training at the beautiful Kinsey family race stables at Peel Hall in Ashton, near Frodsham and, although I have spent most of this first week back in the manege (an exercise ring used for schooling horses - and novices), my confidence is climbing like Red Rum at Becher’s Brook.
Admittedly, I am some way off filing into the stalls or even kicking for home, as I am having to learn to ride almost all over again.
But just being around a real race stable, working with genuine thoroughbred horses and chatting with racing folk is really encouraging me to fall in love with the sport.
After our first session together - in which I came close to falling off when my left foot popped out of the stirrup on a canter - Will said: “Okay, so you can sit in the saddle and ride but let’s take off the stabilisers now. It’s time for you to do the work too.”
And just like riding a bike, horse racing is all about balance.
No wonder racing saddles are so small - you never get to sit in them.
The racing position is about keeping your legs straight with your heels down, gripping with your inner calves, lifting your bum in the air with your back straight and - in order to see - your head up.
Sounds uncomfortable? Welcome to my new world.
Luckily, my one-on-one personal trainer has more than enough experience to make my transition as slick as possible.
Kinsey started riding when he was just a baby and started racing, initially as a hobby, at the age of 18.
Now 26, he's been a professional jockey for the past three years and made his name riding out of his family’s stables before being targeted and then signing up with the McCains last summer.
Long term, however, he has plans to establish the Kinsey race stable as a strong brand all on its own.
Will has ridden at courses all over the country, often a couple of rides each week, and even though I think he was secretly hoping that I would have been rather more competent than I am, he’s more than up for the challenge of turning me into a genuine, or maybe just passable, flat jockey.
Kinsey added: “You’ll be fine. If you were really struggling then I wouldn't have even suggested riding at the Bangor meeting.
“But once you get into the habit of riding out of the saddle everything else will come from that. You’ll be out galloping out soon enough.”
The Bangor-on-Dee race meeting on May 17 is one of the course’s most popular fixtures, marking the end of the series of five hunter chases hosted during the spring.
And with a list of prospective Merseyside-based jockeys being lined up to saddle up beside me, my big Saturday race really can't come soon enough.
Peet and Barlow back in business
THE jigsaw will be back in the box this weekend when the dream Nick Peet - Stuart Barlow strike partnership returns to the field.
And I am hoping that my new weight loss and fitness regime will help me shine on Sunday when I figure in an annual charity football match.
Every year a string of Echo journo’s take on doctors and staff from Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in a match to help raise awareness of bowel cancer.
Both sides are helped out by a good sprinkling of former Everton, Liverpool and Tranmere players.
Last year I had the pleasure of playing alongside Ian Rush - and even stuck one past Eric Nixon after stumbling around Alan Kennedy!
Once again the field will be packed with ex-pros this weekend, but last year a much chunkier version of myself ran riot in the Echo rout thanks mainly to the service from former Blues striker Barlow.
The match is on Sunday at the Liverpool University playing fields on Mather Avenue in Allerton. Gates open at 1pm, followed by kick-off at 2pm.
The family day is free to attend and includes health awareness stands, face painting, a Wembley shoot-out, and a refreshment bar.
