Welsh jockeys join forces to beat pandemic depression
EIGHT top Welsh jockeys have joined forces to beat pandemic depression, and branded themselves Tafia United, writes Brian Radford.
Zoom, texts, phone and emails are being used to sort out issues and keep spirits high.
All eight are under 25, and graduated from rival point-to-point champions to big-race winners on the national jumps circuit.
Recent Cheltenham hero Lorcan Williams lines up alongside Sean and James Bowen, Connor Brace, Alan Johns, Ben Jones, Richard Patrick and Jack Tudor.
Racing’s best judges rated Lorcan’s short-head win on Will Biddick’s 16-1 Porlock Bay as the best ride at the Festival.
And his boss, elite trainer Paul Nicholls, said: “Top marks to Lorcan, who gave the horse such an impressively cool ride.”
Meanwhile, Lorcan admits: “Having a bad day is far worse in lockdown, because you can’t talk it out with your friends in a cafe.
“So it burns inside, and you sulk. It can get you down. So we have short chats to keep our spirits up and to make sure our confidence stays high.
“We talk on the phone, by Zoom, in the weighing-room and when carsharing.
“But nothing changes on the track. It’s still everyone for himself out there. We’re all doing our best to be the best. We hate losing and love bragging rights!
“We had a good chat after the reins broke on James’ horse, which shook him up.
“I was right behind him in that race and I watched him battle to keep the horse straight. He led all the way and was brilliant.
“He came back and said, ‘I never want that to happen to me again’. So we talked it through. He’s been in great form.”
Lorcan continued: “Lockdown has taken away the racecourse buzz, so we create our own. We have lots of good laughs, especially with Connor.”
And he insists Nicholls is a champion because “he’s absolutely thorough in everything he does. He misses nothing.
“His main priority is making sure his horses jump well.
“He’s always at the schooling area. He’s a stickler for detail. He’s a perfectionist.”
Within days of signing for the Nicholls yard, Lorcan thanked his new boss with a stunning Fontwell treble.
A potential career in rugby or football has been turned down in order to pursue his passion for riding.
Lorcan adds: “I played full-back in rugby and striker in football, both for Tenby and Pembrokeshire, but all I’ve ever wanted to do was win the Welsh National.
“Jack Tudor has done it, so he has the bragging rights, and that’s made me even keener to pull it off.”