Jack Mitchell gunning for big two in all-weather jockeys' championship battle

Jack Mitchell plans to threaten the big two of Adam Kirby and Luke Morris in this winter's all-weather jockeys' championship on the back of his best ever year on the Flat in 2019.

The 30-year-old already has a record annual tally of 72 winners to his name with two months of the year to go and is hoping to give the winter circuit a real go after missing out through injury last season.

Mitchell, who is attached to the Roger Varian yard, has also picked up support from fellow Newmarket trainers Simon Crisford and Hugo Palmer in recent years and is hoping this can bolster an attempt at the all-weather championship.

He said "I did all right last winter, to be fair, but I had to stop in January for a shoulder operation which took two months to settle down.

"To be honest, I know you are taking on [John] Gosden and Godolphin runners but there are still plenty of novice races to be won this winter and I know Roger Varian still has many to run as has Simon Crisford and Hugo Palmer, so I thought why not give the all-weather championship a crack this time?

"I had a couple of offers to go abroad but while I'm fit and well and the ball's rolling I thought why not keep it going."

Mitchell is 5-1 third favourite with Paddy Power for the jockeys title behind Adam Kirby and Luke Morris, who have split the last six championships between themselves. Reigning champion Adam Kirby is the 11-10 favourite ahead of 7-4 chance Luke Morris.

Adam Kirby: reigning all-weather champion jockeyCredit: John Grossick

Mitchell added: "I know many of the lads, including Andrea Atzeni and David Egan are going away or taking a break so now could be the right time.

"One door can lead to another on the all-weather circuit and hopefully I can pick up some good spares. The all-weather is usually my gig but I've never been in a position to give it a real go until now."

Mitchell, who has a host of rides on the all-weather later this week, already has two winners on the board. He added: "My agent Steve Croft has had this in the back of his mind since I came back from my shoulder operation in March. We were kicking on last winter until I had to stop and hopefully if I remain injury free I could make a go of it."

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “It’s almost a decade since Jack came to the public’s attention with a 33-1 winner of the Epsom Dash in Bertoliver in 2010 and that experience makes us think he’s the most likely candidate to topple Adam Kirby and Luke Morris.”

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