Proud Sophia Upton picks up big Jets prize at Cheltenham

BHA starter Sophia Upton was the big winner at the Richard Davis Awards, picking up the Jockey Club Achievement Award and the £3,000 first prize at Cheltenham on Sunday.

The awards, run by Jockeys Education & Training Scheme (Jets), celebrate the new careers of riders who have retired from racing, and Upton has thrived in her new role as a starter, covering jumps and the Flat.

She said: “It’s a huge privilege to win this award in Richard’s name as I knew him as a jockey. I feel very proud to have come so far in my second career already.”

Upton was chosen over fellow former jump jockeys Rodi Greene and John Pritchard, who have gone on to have second careers as a jockey coach and business owner respectively. Each receive £500 as runners-up.

George Chaloner, who retired in the summer before taking up the role as trainee clerk of the course at Pontefract, won the IJF progress award, while apprentice Faye McManoman won the Current Jockey Award.

An aerial combat display takes place at Prestbury ParkCredit: Edward Whitaker

Fight in the skies feature in poignant war memorials

Among other off-track activities at Cheltenham on Sunday, racegoers were treated to a spectacular aerial combat display as part of an action-packed afternoon commemorating World War I.

Elsewhere around the track there was a soldiers’ parade and a wall of remembrance based near the parade ring.

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