'Ascot is a special place and the atmosphere is inspiring'

Ascot
It's a fantastic track to ride from a jockey's perspective. It's very fair, and although it has a few quirks – there's quite a stiff uphill finish –there's plenty of room, the turns are easy and horses stay balanced. Aside from that, though, it's simply a special place to ride when you consider the prestige of the racecourse and the great races it stages, and the atmosphere – especially at the biggest meetings – is inspiring.

Ascot: 'Fantastic place to ride with an inspiring atmosphere'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Newbury
It's a big, galloping track with a very long straight that gives a jockey loads of time to get organised. There's never any need to be in a rush at Newbury, you can win from the front or from the back and it's rare anyone comes back with a hard-luck story. You find practically every horse acts there, it's easy to keep them nice and balanced and when the ground is good to firm or thereabouts there's really no excuses for a jockey or a horse.

Newbury: 'Very fair track where hard-luck stories are rare'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Goodwood
There are certainly plenty of hard-luck stories here, I haven't had a great many winners and it's definitely not the easiest track to ride because they always race on the far side and never seem to come off the rail, so you can be on a horse who's full of running but has nowhere to go. It can be frustrating. It's on the list because it's my local course, I went to school 15 minutes away, I've been going there since I was a kid and I usually see people I know there. It's a special track for me.