After best-man duties, foggy fun and an Aintree fast, we're down to the wire

How important are happy endings?

It was a slow start to the season. Jump racing did not begin until June 22 and by the time I rode my first winner on July 22, Jamie Codd had five on the board.

We quickly set off in pursuit. I thought all summer long that Sharjah would finally win me the amateur handicap at Galway, but he joined a list that includes Royal Ascot winners, Cheltenham Festival winners and now Grade 1 winners that I have managed to get beaten in that race.