Out in the cold: tough time for apprentices as rookie riders forced to wait

Spare a thought for aspiring apprentices who have had to sit out the return of racing at the start of last month and still await a first race restricted to their ranks.

Their plight was put in the spotlight by one 7lb claimer after he grabbed the opportunity to get his 2020 up and running with a winning spare ride at Haydock on Saturday evening.

Cian MacRedmond pointed out a lack of apprentice races was making life difficult for aspiring young riders who had also had to wait weeks to return to action after only senior jockeys were cleared to start the delayed season.

View the race replay of MacRedmond's winning ride

“With no apprentice races it is tough,” said MacRedmond after he had put Gamesome ahead in the last stride of the 5f handicap, having been booked for the ride by winning trainer Paul Midgley in a late phone call the day before.

Cian MacRedmond after his winning ride on Gamesome at Haydock on SaturdayCredit: JOHN GROSSICK (racingpost.com/photos)

The BHA let only senior riders back at the resumption of racing and MacRedmond, being a 7lb claimer, was only given the green light on June 22, a week after 5lb claimers had been allowed to return.

MacRedmond added: “We were the last ones to get going and there have been no apprentice races.

“It is all about building contacts for apprentices and if you give one a good ride in an apprentice race you can get rides for the owners and trainers.”

MacRedmond, who is stable apprentice for Declan Carroll, was riding his first winner since July last year, and took his career score into double figures with seven in Britain and three in his native Ireland.

There is light at the end of the tunnel for claiming riders with the latest BHA update on the racing programme for August revealing the return of apprentice races.

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