Champion pony racer Harry Davies takes on the pros for first time at Southwell

Two-time champion pony racer Harry Davies takes his first ride under rules on Tuesday where he has been booked to partner the Hugo Palmer-trained Battered in the mile handicap (5.50) at Southwell.

The 17-year-old is attached to the Andrew Balding stable but has a long connection to Palmer's Newmarket operation where his mother Angie is assistant trainer.

During his time on the pony circuit, Davies won 28 races and was twice crowned Charles Owen Racecourse Series winner in 2018 and 2019.

Davies originally thought he had missed out on his dream of an apprenticeship in 2019 when members of the National Trainers Federation indicated they would stop taking on apprentices after a row over earnings, but he was subsequently taken on at Kingsclere last summer.

Harry Davies pictured riding out for Hugo Palmer last year

Taylor Fisher, who often battled with Davies on the pony circuit, also recently filled a similar role with Richard Hannon.

Davies is certainly bred for the job, with his father Stephen a champion apprentice in 1994 while attached to the yard of Sir Henry Cecil.

Spending most of his childhood at Palmer's Kremlin Cottage Stables, Davies has in recent years ridden work with the likes of James Doyle, Michael Hills and two-time champion apprentice Cieren Fallon.

Oisin Murphy, William Buick and David Probert are among the successful apprentices to graduate from Kingsclere and Davies is hoping to continue that tradition.

He gets his career under way on the eight-year-old Battered, who has not run for nearly a year but is plenty fit enough for the mile test after leading many of the stable stars at the Palmer yard in their homework.

The 17-year-old won 28 races on the pony circuit

Davies has already secured an agent through his stepfather Phil Shea, who books rides for the likes of Stevie Donohoe and Trevor Whelan.

Shea said: "It's always been Harry's ambition to be a jockey, hopefully he can achieve his own goals and it's all about getting experience. He's enjoying it down at Kingsclere and mentions David Probert's name quite often. I think he's ridden work with him and learnt quite a lot."

As for the chances of a riding a winner first time, Shea added: "Battered is valuable as a lead horse and can only be ridden by apprentices as part of a deal with the Jockey Club, which means Hugo doesn't have to pay Heath Tax for him.

"I don't think he'll win but a nice safe round is what we're hoping for. Battered could win if he wanted to as he once was rated 101 but he's not that in love with racing."

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