'Little Kim is the best horse in the race, so why not have a go at a big pot?'

To say things have gone well for Ben Curtis in 2018 would be an understatement.

He has already enjoyed his most lucrative campaign since moving to Britain from Ireland five years ago, has last season's personal-best total of 79 winners in sight and in the space of four days recently doubled his Group race haul.

But a jockey's lot is never enough, and standing still admiring his achievements – which include a share of the Irish champion apprentice crown with Joseph O'Brien and Gary Carroll in 2010 – is not an option.

Ben Curtis stats and big-race wins

"I'm nine winners off last year, so hopefully I'll do it and stay injury free," Curtis says, probably spying a plank of wood to touch at the same time.

"I'll be disappointed if I didn't do it. The aim is 100 winners for the year. I've got two good bases behind me in David Barron and Karl Burke.

"Then my agent Simon Dodds is doing very well getting me outside rides for northern and southern trainers, so I've a constant stream of rides, and if you've got that and some decent horses the winners will come."

Watch Ben Curtis win the Chipchase on Above The Rest

Home overlooks Thirsk racecourse - "a great base right next to the A1" - and no doubt a few pictures of Curtis's Group 3 brace this summer in the Chipchase on Above The Rest and the Prix du Bois on Little Kim decorate the walls.

"You can often find better horses, but staying on them is a different story," adds the jockey. "When they look half-decent you can lose them to someone who's more in fashion, so it's nice to have the faith of trainers to get those opportunities, and luckily I've been able to take them."

Little Kim (white and black silks) scoring at Carlisle under CurtisCredit: Grossick Racing Photography 0771

The aforementioned Little Kim provides Curtis – whose talents were honed during a spell in his youth with master trainer John Oxx – another chance in the spotlight in the £250,000 Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury on Saturday.

Her success in the Prix du Bois was a first Group win for the colours of Nick Bradley's racing partnership and her rider senses another big payday with £122,925 on offer for the winner.

"Little Kim won her novice well," says the 28-year-old.

See how Little Kim impressed on her debut

"I'm not one of those who go into Royal Ascot with my eyes closed because I know how hard it is to have winners there, but I thought she had a great chance in the Queen Mary, which she was eighth in, but might have been in the first four with a better draw.

"She then won well in France, and with John Quinn's horse [Queen Mary winner Signora Cabello] not running at Newbury it makes life a bit easier. She has a penalty for France, which isn't ideal, but on form she's the best horse in the race, so why not take a chance at a big pot?"

Curtis has plans to ride abroad this winter and might find himself with some extra spending money on Saturday night; the way his season's going, you wouldn't rule it out.

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