'You have to pinch yourself' - how Constitution Hill and Shishkin created an unlikely celebrity

Okay, he's not Frankie Dettori, but you might well recognise him. Indeed, he's fast becoming one of the most recognisable grooms in Britain.

Jaydon Lee has spent five years at Nicky Henderson's historic Seven Barrows base and, to a degree, has found fame as the man who looks after Shishkin and Constitution Hill.

"Ah, you're here to interview the celebrity?" Henderson's second-in-command Charlie Morlock jokes at the entrance to the tack room.

From Leamington Spa, the humble Lee hardly screams celebrity as we sit down for a chat in the yard's utilitarian canteen, but it is pointed out there won't be many better-known members of his profession.

"It is nice," he responds. "People come up and say they've seen me here or there, but the banter from the rest of the team doesn't stop if I've had my name mentioned on ITV. 

"It's good craic, but I hate watching myself on TV. I always watch the races back when I'm home but skip the bits when I'm on."

Lee's highlights reel features more hits than misses, which is hardly surprising when the four horses he looks after feature six-time Grade 1 winner Shishkin and Constitution Hill, the biggest draw in town.

The 21-year-old, for good measure, also looks after Pentland Hills, who won the Triumph Hurdle in 2019. Poor Madam Ryder, it seems, has a lot to live up to as the final member of the foursome.

Shishkin, with Jaydon Lee at the controls, stretches his legsCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I suppose you have to pinch yourself," says Lee, who initially had no hands-on experience with horses as a youngster but caught the bug watching racing at weekends with his grandfather George, who was an occasional punter.

Henderson allies Sir Anthony McCoy and Barry Geraghty are among his racing heroes, while the trainer's Sprinter Sacre is unsurprisingly nominated as an equine pin-up, although his former stablemate Vaniteux is also given a fond mention.

"Leaving primary school, I thought I needed a hobby to get me going," Lee says, recalling a childhood he describes as quiet but good.

"Football was the usual, or rugby, and my friends did those, but I've always loved horses. I didn't know many people and perhaps it made me the odd one out, but maybe that's because they didn't understand it like they did football.

"I went to a family fun day at Warwick one year and it was a great day, and from there I kind of knew what I wanted to do, or try to do. I'd say that day was a big one for me. I wanted to be a jockey but was big enough even at that age. Every two weeks, I had riding lessons at a place in Kenilworth, just on old cobs, but it was great fun."

Lee, who might watch the odd Formula 1 race when escaping his thoroughbred Ferraris, adds: "I left school at 16 and went straight to the British Racing School in Newmarket, and by then I knew my weight might be an issue if I wanted to be a jockey, but I got pushed back anyway because I wasn't very good! My time there was class, but my riding, having been on those old cobs, wasn't up to scratch. I loved it, though; it was what I wanted to do.

"I finished and was supposed to go to Ben Case's, but I asked if there was any chance I could come here. I'd been to the Lambourn Open Day, liked it and, luckily, there was a slot."

Paired with stable stalwart Robin Land, who looked after Altior and now has Jonbon on his books, Lee thrived, relishing the non-stop nature of one of the biggest operations in jump racing.

"I spent a week shadowing Robin and, whatever he said, I listened to," he adds. "I think that's important and I'd say that to people coming into the industry. Find a friend, someone you can sort of buddy up with, like I did with Robin.

"I loved it right from the off, though. It's busy, but that's good for me. I don't think I'd have adapted well if it was slow and quiet."

Jaydon Lee with Constitution Hill and Nico de Boinville after winning the Champion HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

As it turned out, Lee adapted well enough to be nominated as newcomer of the year at what is now the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards in 2021. Although he didn't win, it was a major feather in his cap, and a huge personal boost, that the yard had seen fit to put his name forward.

Another boost came later that way when Lee was partnered with Constitution Hill.

"I've never known another horse be as chilled out as him," he says. "He first came here at the back end of the summer for a week to see how he got on and he was my ride then, but he was so relaxed. You're wondering what he was because he didn't seem to have a personality. The boss has said how he'd get lapped in the indoor school because he'd trot so slowly. 

"I still thought he was quite cool and could be my pal, but I never knew how good he was. The boss had the courage to work him one day and everyone was like, 'What's James [Bowen] on?'. When you said, 'Constitution', they were like, 'What, really?'. They thought he was this big, slow, sluggish thing and I couldn't believe it either – I thought, 'No way, absolutely no way'. 

"I asked James and he said he went really well. I replied saying something like, 'Did he? We'll see next week', but after that it was the same thing; he just kept flying past everything and couldn't just be fluking it."

Constitution Hill, the daily mount of Matty Gill these days, might be the name on everyone's lips for the coming months, but Lee has no hesitation saying Shishkin, who he rides regularly at home, is his favourite.

"I don't know what it is, but he was my first winner, my first faller, my first big winner and I've just done everything with him," says the gym goer, who can't prevent a huge smile appearing on his face when asked for his favourite moment in the sport.

"The Clarence House Chase – I won't forget that," he replies. "It was special and the week before the race everyone was wondering if Energumene was going to come over. Even on the Friday, we all stood around asking if anyone had heard if he was coming and Shishkin probably shouldn't have won. We made a mistake and Energumene had it all his own way, but he dug deep.

Jaydon Lee celebrating Shishkin's Clarence House Chase successCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I don't normally get too animated and try to take things in my stride, but you could say I lost it that day. The weekend before I'd gone home and we had the racing on, and I was telling my mum [Mandy] that this time next week she could have a very happy boy or a very unhappy one." 

She might have an even happier one if her son decides to revisit his childhood dreams.

"It's probably not going to happen, but taking out my jockey's licence is not out of the question and I think about it now and then," reveals Lee, who lives in a bungalow on site with his girlfriend and co-worker Katie Miller.

"The weight might be an issue, but I feel I could get it to where it needs to be. I'm lucky at the moment because the horses I've got are passing the time. 

"That's grand and I'm not too worried about it, but you can't leave these things too late and Mick Fitzgerald says he'd support me if I want to do it. I've been sat there dialling his number and then not called him and been thinking, 'Arrgh'."

Riding on the track would give Lee more exposure, but he's certainly got the right horses to keep him in the spotlight in any case.

Read more . . .

'It was amazing to win - it was 30 years of my working life I put into it. I couldn't stop crying' 

'I only went down to the yard in lockdown to earn a bit of money - to have achieved this much already is amazing' 

This year's winner urges trainers to nominate staff for Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards after thrilling 2023 

Nominations open for the 20th Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards 

Nominations are open until November 7 for the 20th running of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards. The awards are an opportunity for employees from across the industry in Britain, such as training yards, studs or administrative roles, to be celebrated for their hard work and dedication. Find out more by visiting thoroughbredawards.co.uk