'I had to watch Grade 1 winners I could have ridden - Cue Card and Thistlecrack'
Jonathan Harding catches up with the in-form jockey ahead of a big two days
Aidan Coleman had to bide his time before getting the opportunity to partner champions like Paisley Park and Epatante, but even with success at the top level finally coming his way it is not in his nature to get carried away.
The jockey cuts a jovial figure as we sit at a social distance beside the parade ring at Plumpton, his sense of humour gladly unaffected by the cold. He has plenty of reason to smile given a day earlier he landed the Shloer Chase on Put The Kettle On at Cheltenham, adding to their Arkle success at the festival in March.
Coleman is riding the crest of a wave and on Friday he will partner Paisley Park in his defence of the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury before heading to Newcastle to be reunited with Champion Hurdle winner Epatante after getting the call-up from owner JP McManus.
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- It's been a quarter of a century since we started - here's how we've seen the sport we love change
- 'You can see why people end up struggling - when you're trying to pay the electric bill, losing one ride can be massive'
- 'I've never paid six figures for a horse and never will - I learned pretty quickly you're only one phone call away from f*** all'
- 'I’ve trained some fabulous horses, worked with some excellent riders - maybe I have brought a little bit of talent to the table as well'
- ‘When you’re in the moment and you’re starved, you’re ready to explode - everything built up and I just lost my s**t’