Luke Harvey: 'All I can hear is these jockeys howling with laughter'

Luke Harvey was handed a chastening reminder of his own limitations recently when an unfortunate moment on his point-to-point horse Spanish Jump was witnessed by some of the leading members of the weighing room.

Speaking to the Racing Post for a major interview in Sunday's newspaper, the former jockey discussed how he became a top pundit on television, famous for his relationship with Jason Weaver on Get In, and picked out the energy he brings to his role as his greatest strength.

"During lockdown I ran seven miles every day," he revealed, "and got down to my riding weight – I'm only 10-2 or 10-3 now – and although I don't diet, I'm always doing something, mucking out, hedging, anything for myself.

"If I were a horse I'd never need blinkers, because I thrive on work. It's not why I stay fit, but I think my ace card on TV is my energy, so I'll keep myself busy while I wait for somebody younger to come and knock me off my perch."

Luke Harvey: 'Someone clearly told him what John was saying and he came storming out'

However, approaching 56 years of age, Harvey does have his limitations, as an outing to Olly Murphy's schooling grounds confirmed when he decided to give his beloved winning point-to-pointer Spanish Jump – aka Jonjo – a spin in front of the assembled jockeys, including talents of the magnitude of Aidan Coleman and Adrian Heskin.

"I've gone up the four fences and he's jumped them really careful and correct, so I think I'll show these young boys what it's about," he recounted.

"So I set him alight, he comes steaming into them, and at the fence they're standing by I ask him to go long, he says 'I'm not going that long', puts down and I'm catapulted in the air and all I can hear is these jockeys howling with laughter.

"I said to Aidan: 'I thought I'd fire him in', and he said: 'If he'd come up from where you asked him to, you'd both have been dead.' At least I stayed on, though."

Read more from Luke Harvey in The Big Read, available online for Members' Club Ultimate subscribers from 6pm on Saturday or in Sunday's Racing Post newspaper. Click here to sign up.

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