'Kim would have loved it' - Colin Tizzard to give grandson debut ride on Sunday

Colin Tizzard has given the leg-up to AP McCoy, Richard Johnson and almost all of the big-name jockeys in recent years but he will break new ground on Sunday, when his grandson Freddie Gingell makes his debut under rules at Warwick.

Gingell has taken little time adjusting to race-riding in the point-to-point sphere, winning on only his second start at Buckfastleigh on the old Tizzard favourite Molineaux last Sunday.

This weekend, he takes the ride on another well-known name from the Tizzards' yard in West Approach in the Willoughby De Broke Open Hunters' Chase (4.00).

The 16-year-old will be looking to start off an exciting career in the saddle with hopes of emulating his uncle Joe, who rode nine Grade 1 winners before going on to become an integral part of the training operation.

Gingell lost mother Kim to cancer in May 2020 and his recent successes have filled the family with pride.

Tizzard said: "Fred has always wanted to be a jockey and he's the right size; the trick is having the right horse. I remember Paul Nicholls tapped Joe on the shoulder at a bar in Wincanton and asked him to be an amateur, and that's what happened. Sometimes you just need to be in the right place at the right time.

"Fred's done really well; that was only his second point-to-point on Sunday and he won. He's got to maintain his good record now.

"West Approach is a lovely horse. He's been around Cheltenham a few times and he should be ideal for Fred to have his first ride on.

Colin Tizzard: 'Fred is the right size'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"It's sad because Kim would've loved it, more than anyone, but things happen in life and you've just got to enjoy them and think of her as well. We'll keep encouraging Fred to fulfil his dreams."

Before his point-to-point debut, Gingell was flourishing in the pony racing circuit, riding more than 50 winners, including races held at Chepstow, Newbury and Haydock.

He has also picked up valuable lessons from schooling sessions alongside professional riders at Tizzard's base.

Tizzard said: "All of our jockeys are here on a Wednesday and Fred gets to school with Brendan Powell, Harry Cobden and Jonjo O'Neill Jr and we call it work experience.

"But a senior teacher came up to him and said 'why are you always late on a Wednesday, what are you doing?', and Fred explained.

"The teacher told him normally they didn't like, it but they had a similar experience in the past – and that student was a 15-year-old Harry Cobden."

West Approach, a Grade 3 winner at the November meeting at Cheltenham in 2019, faces stiff opposition in Sunday's race with one-time leading Grand National fancy Kimberlite Candy also entered.

Read this next:

'Inspirational' owner with locked-in syndrome strikes with Mark Of Gold

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday