How Wayne Hutchinson bluffed his way through Alan King job interview

The Alan King yard has always been known as a hotbed of chasing talent – yet that didn't stop Wayne Hutchinson getting a job to ride for King when he had never ridden in a race over fences.

In Sunday's Big Read, the recently retired jockey reveals he neglected to mention that fact when King interviewed him.

"He never asked, so I didn't tell him," said Hutchinson with a smile as he looked back on an outstanding career in the saddle.

From that inauspicious start, Hutchinson went on to have a fabulous career in partnership with King, initially as number two to Robert Thornton before enjoying big-race success as number one aboard the likes of Smad Place and Godsmejudge.

However, Hutchinson also revealed the difficult start that had seen him turn up for his interview with King so short of experience after brief spells with Stan Mellor and Jeff King.

"I struggled to get experience of riding horses over fences," he said. "Young lads were coming over from Ireland having ridden in 50-100 point-to-points. They were experienced 7lb claimers who would get rides in conditional chases, and I was left watching from the sidelines.

"In the year I spent with Jeff [King] I never had one ride over fences. I really don’t know why. Perhaps he thought I wasn’t ready; maybe he didn't have the confidence in me. So it was tough going. What I should have done [had there been anybody to advise him] was ridden as an amateur, gained experience and then turned conditional."

Nevertheless, Jeff King, who had been a ferociously competitive jump jockey with a temper to match, was a significant influence in making Hutchinson see things for what they were.

"I certainly learned a new vocabulary from Jeff," said Hutchinson, "but he was instrumental in toughening me up because I was soft. I'd take everything to heart, and if you were like that around
Jeff you wouldn't last long.

"It was a great grounding. And now I think if I'd gone to Alan before Jeff, it would have been a culture shock to join such a big yard. Alan can be quite fiery but Jeff was probably tougher. At Alan's, the bollockings weren't as bad."

Read more from Wayne Hutchinson in Sunday's Big Read, available online to Ultimate members from 6pm on Saturday