Meet the bang-in-form rider operating at a 31 per cent strike-rate and targeting the conditional jockeys' title

Freddie Gordon holds a healthy lead in the conditional jockeys’ championship and with strong support from his trainer-father Chris Gordon, as well as boss Nicky Henderson, he hopes to convert a promising start into the ultimate achievement for any young rider.  

The 20-year-old jockey, who rode out his claim in memorable fashion two Saturdays ago, hit the ground running in September after taking full advantage of the summer to open up a lead in a title race he knew he would target.

“It’s a cool feeling leading the table," said Gordon. "I was always going to go for it this season, and I knew my dad was going to back me big time after the Swinton Hurdle earlier in the season.

Freddie Gordon winning the Swinton Hurdle on Our Champ in MayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

“I didn’t think I would be at this number of winners at this point in the season, but I had a brilliant spell in the summer and I've kept the ball rolling. So, by the time we got kicking, I was already in front and all of a sudden I just had a great start to the season."

No jockey with more than ten rides this season has a better strike-rate than Gordon's 31 per cent, with his table-topping 29 winners coming from just 94 rides. Numerically, November was the best month of his career, with ten winners, a sequence that has allowed him to open up a healthy lead in the championship. The rider also kick-started December with a double at Plumpton on Monday.

• 'We love a Monday at Plumpton' - red-hot Chris and Freddie Gordon dominate again 

Although the title is his main priority, there are other ambitions too, and they could just be possible with two horses in his dad’s yard who could deliver the Grade 1 dream. 

He said: “A Grade 1 would be brilliant, and this season at my dad’s there are horses who could be in Grade 1 company, like Diamond Hunter, who won at Haydock. 

"That was his second run for us and a Grade 2 novice in which he beat some strong company, and there's Bass Hunter, who is a lovely bumper horse.

"It would just be lovely to have a Cheltenham Festival winner, but there are always plenty of other things to be aiming for."

Conditional jockeys' title standings

1. Freddie Gordon – 29 winners
2. Callum Pritchard – 18 winners
3= Dylan Johnston – 17 winners
3= Peter Kavanagh – 17 winners

Gordon has long been supported by his dad, who is also in flying form this season, and that momentum has not only helped the young rider strengthen his challenge for the conditionals' championship, but has made each success all the more significant.

“It’s quite unbelievable how well my dad’s horses are going, and it’s nice he keeps putting me up – it's a massive help," said Gordon.

“It’s like anyone in any sort of business, it’s just a really nice feeling when things are going well for your mum and dad, and you’ve had a big part to play in it. It makes it ten times more special when it's for your family.”

"It’s much easier riding for him than anyone else as the pressure isn’t on as much. I can talk to him in a different way than anyone else I’m riding for.”

Freddie Gordon chatting to Nicky Henderson ahead of riding East India Express to victory in AprilCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Having previously been with Paul Nicholls, Gordon joined Henderson’s yard full-time in July 2023 and has been enjoying working with one of the sport’s top operators for the third season with a stable full of champions. 

"It’s brilliant riding for such a legend in the sport; it’s a good place to be," he said. "He's the big dog in England. I'm schooling nice horses, riding nice horses and they’re doing good pieces of work. It’s not to say my dad hasn’t got nice horses, it’s just a different sort of calibre. 

"My dad spends an average of 40-50 grand on horses, whereas Nicky’s probably spending 150-300 as an average. It’s nice riding those sorts of horses.

Freddie and Chris Gordon celebrating their 462-1 treble at HaydockCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Saturday, November 22 was a monumental day for the Gordon team with a 462-1 treble at Haydock. It gave Freddie two of the biggest successes of his career in Grade 2 company, and Electric Mason then carried him to victory to ride out his claim – not that the young rider had been thinking too much about that beforehand.

“It was unbelievable," he said. "It was one of those days I'll never forget. “I was happy I had two winners already and I thought if Electric Mason runs well I’ll be happy. 

"I wasn’t thinking I'd ride out my claim; it was a Grade 3 handicap hurdle, you don’t know what’s going to come out of it. Pulling up, I thought I'd been beaten. It was just a special day.”

Read these next:

'We love a Monday at Plumpton' - red-hot Chris and Freddie Gordon dominate again 

'It was one of those great days when it all goes right!' - Haydock ace Chris Gordon happy to acknowledge his roots 

Hangovers, tears and a hell of a buzz - unbelievable Saturday has Gordon family targeting Grade 1 breakthrough 

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