With the flat season now in full swing, Go Racing in Yorkshire’s sponsored apprentice Kieran Schofield gives us an insight into his racing world.

I’m getting very busy with racing now, although my ride on Tonquin Valley at Beverley’s opening meeting didn’t last too long.  He veered erratically left on leaving the stalls and we parted company and I hit the turf.  Fortunately one of the stall handlers caught him and after a quick check over by the doctor I was able to canter him up the track.  He’s entered again at Pontefract next week so hopefully will be a bit happier for the racecourse experience.  On the plus side it means that statistically I’m not due another fall for 30 rides, however it did seem to bring me some luck as my next ride at Ripon the following day was a winner!

I rode Canford Bay for Antony Brittain in the Go Racing in Yorkshire Future Stars Apprentice Race and we won by a length.  I knew that if he could bring his all-weather form to the turf he would have a good chance so was delighted to have my first winner of the year.  I won the whole series last year and I’m back at the top of the table alongside Cameron Noble after two rounds.  My aim for the season is to be the first jockey to have back to back wins in the series.

Three days later I was back in the winners’ enclosure, this time for my boss, Brian Ellison, at Southwell on Ticks The Boxes.

The horses in the yard are in good form and running well at the moment with winners under both codes.  We recently had a new salt room installed, which blows salt in the air of one of the stables with a fan.  It’s the same principle as a salt room at a spa and helps with the horses’ respiratory systems.

I have got a lot of rides coming up, about twice as many as I did this time last year and I think a couple of early wins helps with my profile and I’m grateful to the boss and Mr Brittain for using me.  I’m due to ride both winners again over the next week and I’m hopeful of big runs from them both.  I’m hoping to visit lots of Yorkshire tracks in the next week with provisional rides at Doncaster, Wetherby, Thirsk and Pontefract.

The Friday night football has about come to an end as everyone who plays is very busy riding, particularly with evening meetings kicking in next week.  I’m still getting up to Jack Berry House when I can, but my daily exercise tends to come from taking my five-month-old Blue Whippet, Nell, for walks.