Gina’s talking up her riding skills
NEWMARKET JOURNAL JAN 2011. AT THE RACES PRESENTER GINA BRYCE RIDING OUT FOR NEWMARKET TRAINER JOHN BERRY PREPARING FOR HER RIDE AT CHELTENHAM IN THE ST PATRICKS DERBY, PICTURED PIDING OUT ON JOHNS HORSE KARMA CHAMELEON.
HER face is broadcast to thousands of racing enthusiasts on a daily basis, but for one day only next month Gina Bryce will let her riding skills do all the talking as she swaps the microphone for the saddle.
On Thursday, March 15, the star of racing channel At The Races will be among a select group of 12 to take part in this year’s St Patrick’s Day Derby, on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival to help raise money for Cancer Research UK.
Having very limited race riding experiencethe 28 year old has teamed up with Newmarket trainer John Berry to help enhance her chances of crossing the line in first at the iconic Gloucestershire racecourse.
Last year, racing headquarters was left celebrating a rare winner at Prestbury Park when former Newmarket Racecourses announcer, and broadcast journalist, Lorna Fowler scored aboard the Sir Henry Cecil-trained Plato in the one-mile-five-furlong contest.
Despite acknowledging repeating Fowler’s success would be a hard act to follow, the Cambridge University graduate is nonetheless excited about the opportunity.
“I am not so sure I can repeat Lorna’s victory of last year as I am lot less experienced than her, but I will be giving it my best,” said Bryce.
“I applied last year but didn’t get in and it is something that has been on my radar since it was set up.
“It was thanks to one of my friends who works for Cancer Research encouraging me to go for it — it will be an amazing experience.
“The link up with John Berry came about while he was down at our studio doing the World of Racing programme.
“It was there I explained that I had ridden out for fellow Newmarket trainers Michael Bell and Willie Musson in the past.
“I have now been riding out at John’s yard on a regular basis since around last October.
“John has been really helpful in giving me pointers on how to race ride. They are a lovely team to get to know and work with.
“Each of the them have given me good pointers so I am ready for the race.”
While Bryce has been pleased with the help she has received from the Exeter Road handler, comments are equally as positive in the other direction, with Berry more than happy with the progress Bryce has made while under his watchful eye.
“Gina has done very well, is taking the whole thing very seriously and she is definitely making sure she is fully prepared for the race,” said Berry.
“Although she is an experienced work rider, she has not had much in the way of race riding. It has been more a case of fine tuning her skills.
“I don’t know too much about her mount for the race, but if the horse is up to it then she has a good chance.”
One thing the Timeform Radio presenter will be hoping to avoid is the embarrassment she suffered on her only racecourse appearance to date, when taking part in a similar event at Newbury last year in aid of Spinal Research.
“I was riding the Paul Cole-trained Strategic Mount, who was a short price favourite for the race, and I managed to get him comprehensively beaten,” explained Bryce.
“I was led down to the start and as he was quite a strong horse I though he would go bowling off in front, but as everything went forward he went backwards and I ended up being about 30 lengths behind.
“I did manage to beat one home but I was in a massive strop afterwards as it was frustrating after putting in the work I did into it.
“I definitely want to give a better account of myself this time.”
Despite training for the race in Newmarket, Bryce — who is also a regular contributor to the Thoroughbred Owner and Breeder magazine — will not be riding for her mentor, but for leading National Hunt trainer David Pipe.
Her partner for the race is to be the YourGolfTravel.com-owned On Khee.
Should the five year old storm up the hill in first, it would hand the gelding’s owners yet another day to remember 18 months after tasting their biggest success on racecourse to date following Credit Swap’s victory in the 2010 Cambridgeshire at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile.
“The owners of the horse are kindly sponsoring me the £5,000 I need for the race as they were quite keen for me to ride their horse,” said Bryce.
“I have only been on the gallops a few times with On Khee, but everything seemed to go well.”
Despite the race still being over a month away, the popular presenter has already received some good-natured banter from one of National Hunt racing’s leading lights.
“Davy Russell has been giving me some stick about making sure I don’t take the wrong course which knowing me I could quite easily do,” she added.
Among those set to do battle against the racing presenter are former jockey, turned broadcast journalist, Niall Hannity, and Joanne McCain, daughter of the late Donald McCain, who trained the legendary Red Rum to win the Grand National on three occasions.
“This year’s line-up looks a really good and competitive one,” added Bryce. “I don’t think anyone in the field would begrudge Joanne McCain winning the race, especially with the story behind her.
“The group we have seem to be good and already there has been a lot of banter going on. Although I am excited by the whole thing, I am a little bit nervous about it to.”
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