YOU might not know the jockey. And you probably don’t remember the horse.
But together, Charlotte Jones and The Steward have been viewed almost 10million times on YouTube.
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The duo’s unforgettable win on an otherwise drab and dreary day at Newcastle in February 2021 is the most watched video in the history of At The Races.
It has been viewed more times than any Grand National ever.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup? Doesn’t even come close.
In fact, on view count alone, it appears only one video of a race has been viewed more times in the history of YouTube.
You might know that one. It was Secretariat winning the Belmont Stakes in 1973 by 31 lengths in front of a crowd of 70,000.
When The Steward past the post 13 lengths ahead of rivals in a Class 4 bumper three years ago, you’d have been lucky to count 70 punters in the crowd.
But the freakish nature of the win – where Jones went 40 lengths clear of the field at times – has clearly stood the test of time.
The Steward only won once more, 11 months later at Musselburgh with Jones in the saddle again.
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So while his career may have quickly gone south, Jones’ has moved in the opposite direction.
A self-confessed ‘nerd’ with a first-class degree in equine science, she has continued to bang in the winners for trusted trainer Jimmy Moffatt.
The pair have been asked countless times why Jones doesn’t get more rides.
Jones, 29, from Lancashire, insists it is not because she is a woman – both agreeing that spares are hard to come by up north.
The pair rule the roost at their local Cartmel but with fewer fixtures, trainers and opportunities to win in that part of the country, people tend to stick with their tried and tested.
That could change come Cheltenham Festival, however.
The duo look to have a potential star on their hands in the shape of Great Pepper.
The unbeaten six-year-old has been entered in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on the back of two hugely promising wins.
Odds of 50-1 could look overly generous if he takes to the famous Cheltenham hill at the end of a frenetic three-mile gallop.
And one thing is for sure.
Any slacking at the end won’t be down to a lack of fitness on Jones’ behalf.
She could put forward a strong argument for being the fittest jockey in racing, working endlessly in the gym to ensure she remains in top shape.
So over to you, Jimmy.
A finely-tuned horse, £80,000 for winning the Albert Bartlett and maybe, just maybe, a few more views on YouTube.
Don’t write it off just yet.
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