Callum Hutchinson hoping roommate rivalry can boost apprentice title hopes

Saturday: Chester

Callum Hutchinson is hoping some "friendly competition" with roommate Harry Davies can spur his bid for the apprentice jockeys' title.

Hutchinson made an instant impact on his first visit to the Roodee, riding two winners from his first three rides at the track.

Both Vazire in the 7½f novice stakes and Spirit Mixer in the 1m5½f handicap were winning rides for trainer Andrew Balding, boss to both Hutchinson and Davies, and it appears the apprentice title is a hot topic in the jockey's hostel at Kingsclere.

"I've been at Kingsclere since Harry started coming in on school holidays when he was 14 and we both live together now," said Hutchinson.

"We spend a lot of time together and he's like a little brother to me. He's not driving yet, so I'm taking him racing and having some friendly competition does wonders.

"He rode his first treble yesterday and I was the first to see him in the hostel and congratulated him. There's some friendly competition."

On his own title aspirations, Hutchinson added: "The start of the year was pretty slow but I'm starting to get kicking now. It would be nice to get the apprentice title but there's some very good kids around and we've got one of them in our yard."

Hutchinson made it three wins this month on Spirit Mixer, who is a 14-1 shot for the William Hill Northumberland Plate on June 25.

"I love him to bits," said the 20-year-old rider. "He was a bit slowly away and I had to sit in behind. Turning down the back for the second time, they were just slowing the pace and I thought I've got to keep this pace going and made my move. He stays well and kept on giving plenty. He's a special horse."

'She dug deep and hit the line strong'

Origintrail, who cost 145,000gns as a yearling from Book 1, continued her progress with a gutsy win in the 6f handicap for fillies.

The daughter of Profitable made it to the racecourse only once at two but she extended her three-year-old record to two wins and a second from just three runs, despite not looking in love with the tight turns of Chester.

"This is not her track," said winning rider Andrew Mullen. "I thought I was in trouble at halfway and thought if they nick a few lengths on me I'm going to struggle. To be fair she dug deep and hit the line strong.

"She's taken her time and takes some organising, but there's definitely some class there and she'll be suited to a proper galloping track like York."

All aboard

At just 7,000gns, Boardman must be one of the cheapest sons of Kingman out there but the six-year-old appears to be improving with age and followed up last year's success in the same race when landing the 7½f handicap for Tim Easterby and David Allan.

Results, replays and analysis

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