Jockeys can learn a lot from pointing – so too could the wider racing world

Point-to-pointing returns to Cornwall on Sunday at Wadebridge, a track I first rode at 16 years old and was delighted to see concrete – the venue is part of the Royal Cornwall Showground, and seemed one step closer to a real racecourse.

It felt like I had made it to the big time, and didn't have to slop through mud on my way to the paddock. There are long stretches of fibresand down the track in patches and you don't want to be in the middle of the pack as you're cantering over it, or you'll be finding sand behind your ears for a few days after. I didn't ride at Wadebridge much, but it was a nice track, and if you did get a winner there were always lovely prizes.

Funnily enough I had only been thinking in the past few weeks how great it is that in point-to-pointing the jockey gets a prize or a bottle of champagne to take home (in addition to a few bruises or perhaps a whole heap of sand!). It's very rare in jump racing for the winning jockey to be given anything unless it's a very high-class race. For example, Bangor is the only track I've ridden at that awards the winning jockey in every race with a bottle of champagne, which of course tastes all the sweeter knowing you won it.