Ready for the BIG race
Cheltenham is a high point for 6ft 4in jockeys
They looked at me like I had four heads
THOMAS COSTELLO ON JOCKEYS’ REACTION
THAT’S a long shot.. two of the tallest jockeys in the world will be chasing glory at the Cheltenham Festival.
Jack Andrews and Thomas Costello are both 6ft 4in, and will tower over the rest of the jockeys, who average 5ft 2in.
Jack, 25, has already made his Cheltenham debut, riding Anightinlambourn last year. The horse failed to finish.
He is hoping for more success on Henry’s Friend, while Thomas, 22, makes his debut today on Asian Master.
Although not riding against each other, punters can get odds of 389-1 on a double, backing them both to win.
Thomas, based in Closutton, Co Carlow, Ireland, is riding for trainer Willie Mullins, who has 94 Cheltenham winners and hopes this week to become the first ever to reach 100.
WINNERS
Thomas admits it is hard being a 6ft 4in jockey. He said: “It’s tough. I try to keep on top of my weight, but it is difficult. “I haven’t met Jack Andrews yet, but I have seen him. With my height, when I first walked in the weighing room they looked at me like I had four heads. Once you start riding winners you get accepted.” Jack, from Dunchurch, Warks, said: “I’ll probably have to stand next to him to see who is taller.”
Almost 250,000 racegoers will attend Cheltenham Racecourse over the four-day event, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Gold Cup, first held in 1924. Meanwhile, racing experts at bet365 have studied 15 years of Cheltenham results and found 48.2% of winning jockeys had stars on their silks.
AND they’re off! Four days of world-class racing start today as the glorious Cheltenham Festival gets going.
Enjoy the excitement whether you follow the horses in the Mirror, online, watching TV or among the huge crowds on the course, where the Guinness will flow and roars threaten to take the roof off the grandstand.