From kickflips to stirrups: Harry Beswick eyeing title after amateur switch

Going from professional to amateur in sport might sound a retrograde move, but jump jockey Harry Beswick hopes it can result in a title challenge.

The conditional, who has honed his talent at Oliver Sherwood's Grand National-winning yard in Lambourn, intends to one day return to the professional ranks, but is determined to make a name for himself as an amateur.

A talented skateboarder who swapped kickflips for stirrups, Beswick enjoyed a memorable afternoon at Uttoxeter in January 2017 when he rode a double and recorded nine winners last term, which was by far his best campaign.

He said: "I spent the summer in France and am back now, and am going to go amateur for the season. I have every intention to go back to being a professional, but want to try to reinvent myself a bit and this is the right time to do it. I think it's a good idea.

"I want to hit the ground running and make as big a go of it as I can. It gives me a bit more free rein and I won't be tied down to one stable, while I can get around.

"It's a hard game. I've been conditional for four years now and had a good time of it, but this is my last chance to do this as one more winner and I wouldn't been allowed to revert to being an amateur.

"I claim 5lb now, but after 26 winners you can't turn back, so we'll see how it goes, making new contacts and getting a good few winners under my belt before hopefully going back pro in the future."

Harry Beswick after winning on the Sam Drinkwater-trained Some Can Dance at Carlisle in MarchCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The 23-year-old can count on the support of Beswick Brothers Bloodstock 1, his family's string of horses, which are based with Willie Mullins, Colin Tizzard and Phil Kirby among others.

That firepower could help him wrestle the amateur crown from David Maxwell, who won it with 18 winners last season.

"I've been given quite good cards and I want to play them right," Beswick added.

"I could do that as a conditional and have. Last season was my best, but I was still retained at Oliver's and if I was more established maybe I could have stayed professional. It's a funny game and I might even get more rides as an amateur.

"Good amateurs in the UK are few and far between – there's Zac Baker and James King – so I'm hoping I can make a name for myself.

"I want to give this a proper go and I've got 30 horses behind me plus good ties with Sam Drinkwater, so I'm looking to ride between 15-20 winners and the title would be a huge bonus.

"I'd like to ride out my 5lb claim this season and that would be 15 winners, so I could go for the title. David Maxwell's got a serious arsenal of horses, but I hope I have too. I'd hope off the back of that it might warrant going pro again."

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