'Once he got into a rhythm, he loved it in front' - Mattie Batchelor reflects on Carruthers' Hennessy win 13 years ago

We all have our favourites on the track, but it's not always easy to follow what they get up to once their racing days are over. In a new Racing Post series, we catch up with Mattie Batchelor . . .

It has been 13 years since Mattie Batchelor saluted the crowd when winning what was then the Hennessy on Carruthers.

It was a brave and rousing victory for the jockey, who was renowned in the weighing room for his antics and good humour, and marked a feel-good result for the Bradstock family and Lord Oaksey.

Reflecting on the day, Batchelor said: "It was touch and go that I'd ride him, so it was good just to get back on him. The race was made for him, really. Once he got into a rhythm, he loved it in front.

"I was lucky enough to have a Cheltenham Festival winner in a handicap and Carruthers won a few Grade 2s, so in theory they were better races, but with the history and the nostalgia of the Hennessy it's one of the hardest races to win in the calendar.

"This time of year is nice because you see little clips. It was a very poignant day as I lost my mum a few years previously on the day."

Carruthers and Mattie Batchelor win the Hennessy Gold CupCredit: Mark Cranham

Batchelor went on to partner Carruthers' half-brother and subsequent Gold Cup winner Coneygree to two Graded novice hurdle wins the following year and partnered his final winner in Jersey in 2022. He retired the following January and received a hip replacement shortly after.

While no longer riding professionally, racecourses still feature heavily in his life and he will be working in a different guise at Newbury this weekend. He is also learning a new trade when time allows.

"You're always going to miss it because you've done it for so long and it's a big part of your life, but at some stage reality has got to hit," he said. "I feel I could ride competitively now, but I'm 48 years old and the falls don't get any easier.

"At the moment I do a lot for Raceday TV, and I also do racecourse hosting for Colin Brown and Dave Crosse. I'm at Newbury for both days, which is nice.

"A good friend of mine has a good internal glazing firm, so if I'm not working I'll be doing that all around the country."

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