THE SATURDAY SITDOWN
CRAIG SWAN TALKS TO DANNY TUDHOPE
“I’ll be honest, you’d get more thrill from one of your respected peers coming across the paddock and telling you you’d ridden a good one than accolades or acclaim.
“But if I’m doing well and people are happy about it because I’m Scottish, that’s a nice thing. I’m thrilled with how things are going. I couldn’t be happier.
“I won’t really look back or appreciate some things that have happened until I have retired.
“Winning an Arlington Million is massive. That likely won’t hit home until later in life but to be honest no Group 1 comes along that often. I’ve bagged six now and two this year.”
Sometimes he must wonder himself how he got here. For a start Tudhope isn’t from racing stock.
The 32-year-old didn’t have the usual family connections in the sport to give him a leg up and admits he “never even saw a horse” as a youngster apart from when his mum “let you put one pound on one watching the Grand National”.
Tudhope said: “Football was my passion. I had trials but I was too small. I was into all sports. I only went to school to do PE. I’d no interest in racing. It was a careers adviser who put me on to it. I never thought I’d be where I am now.”
Tudhope took those first steps by heading to the Northern Racing College and won his first race in 2003 Italy at an event for young riders.
Slowly making his way up the system his star would rise globally when he teamed up with trainer David O’Meara.
Tudhope rode his first two Group 1 winners four years ago before the biggest success of his career in 2016 when steering Mondialiste to victory in Arlington.
He then added the Shadwell on Suedois the following year which ended with prize money of more than £1.6million.
Tudhope may be in the elite but he said: “Everyone needs a lucky break sometimes. I got that when I met David but I’ve worked for it.
“I never really sit and think, ‘Yeah, I’m good enough for this level’.
“If I look at the likes of Ryan Moore, Frankie Dettori, Silvestre de Sousa, James Doyle, all those lads, they are