It’s 800 up – and there’s Moore to come too

Jamie Moore has got 2021 off to the best possible start by landing his 800th UK winner.

Moore, part of the family racing dynasty based at Cisswood stables at Plummers Plain, just outside Horsham, celebrated the milestone with a bold front-running display on 4/7 favourite Hudson de Grugy in the Unibet Extra Place Races Every Day Juvenile Hurdle at Sandown.

The horse is a relative of the Moore’s now retired stable star Sire de Grugy - on whom Moore has notched notable wins, including the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham and two Tingle Creeks at Sandown.

Hudson de Grugy was pressed hard by Hystery Bere between the last two flights, but dug deep to power home by two and three-quarter lengths, Moore saying: “I had my last winner about two years ago!”

Moore said of the horse: “He is very genuine – Josh (Jamie’s brother) has done all of the work on him and it’s really down to Josh and dad, I’ve just had to do the steering! Like Sire de Grugy, he’s got that little bit of heart in him.”

The landmark Sandown win marked a distinct upturn in Moore’s fortunes after breaking his back and sternum when jettisoned by Alka Step when five from home at Fontwell in mid August.

After that fall, the jockey recalled: “It was quiet weird – I’ve broken 26 bones, so you know when you’re injured and I was lying on the floor and my whole body went pins and needles straight away, and I thought ‘I’m in trouble.’”

Following a speedy comeback from such serious injuries, Moore added: “I’m so grateful to all the doctors, nurses, physios and supplements helping me.”

The Moore family has immense racing pedigree.

Jamie’s grandfather Charlie trained around 500 winners at his Brighton stables, while father Gary was a tough jump jockey before getting a licence to train at Cisswood. Elder brother Ryan has been a serial winner of the flat racing championship, winning a host of classics, including the 1000 and 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Brother Josh is an experienced rider, too - good enough to beat AP McCoy at Fontwell, a very happy hunting ground for the Moores. Jamie has also won the Scottish and Welsh Nationals.

Sister Hayley was a jockey, too, and, for good measure, Jamie’s mother Jayne and aunt Candy have also ridden winners.