The yard pet can be something quite different.  He might be the one everyone learns to ride on, or the one that greets every visitor to the yard like a long-lost friend.  He might not always be the most straight forward, but they somehow worm their way into everyone’s affections.

They also probably run often and consistently.  Keep them happy at home and they will do what you want on the racecourse.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the Nigel Tinkler trained Athollblair Boy.

The 12-year-old has run 133 times since his debut at York on 11^th July 2015, winning on 14 occasions and being placed a further 32 times.  He has earned over £113,000 in prize money and has provided four jockeys with their first win.

He is ridden out everyday by Kim, who described him as,

“Big, numb and strong.

“We bought him at the breeze up sales and he’s a typical breeze up horse which is why he is keen, however, he loves to race and he loves routine.  He squeals every morning when he does his work.

“We’ve tried to retire him more than once, but he just doesn’t want to.  We will have to retire him at some point and this will likely be his last winter.

“He tended to be a good to fast ground horse, but these days, he loves the stability of the all weather and loves Newcastle.”

Eight different jockeys have won on Athollblair Boy, five of them female and like his trainer, he seems to have an eye for the Ladies.

“He seems to go really well for girls, but he enjoys female company.  When he first arrived, he used to share his stable with a Shetland pony to keep him calm and these days, he’s always stabled next to a filly to keep him sweet.  We can only turn him out with the girls as he fights the boys!”

Kim highlighted one of her favourite moments with Athollblair Boy.  He gave Emma Dwan, daughter of the Tinkler’s racing secretary Sam and her husband, Wille, who also worked for the Tinkler’s for a long time her first ever ride.

Emma’s grandfather is the late Mark Birch and her grandmother, Joyce was in attendance at Newcastle for her debut.  Emma was borrowing Faye’s saddle and as the horse was being tacked up, Joyce, sprinkled some of Mark’s ashes on the horse, so that he could ride with her.

Clearly it worked as in a three-way finish, Emma got up to win by a short head – it’s the stuff of dreams!

Emma Dwan aboard Athollblair Boy at Malton Gallops.

“I’ve got him booked in to the National Horseracing College when he does decide to retire,” said Kim.

“He needs a job and I think he’ll fit in well there.  In days gone by, he would have been an ideal trainer’s hack, but everyone uses cars these days.

“He is my granddaughter’s, favourite horse and she’s ridden him around the box ever since she could sit up.

Kim’s granddaughter rides Athollblair Boy at home after his morning exercise.

“On her first day at nursery, they asked her what her favourite animal was and rather than saying a horse, she came straight out with Athollblair Boy.  It’s quite a mouthful, but she’s been able to say that ever since she was two!”

The yard legend is due to have his next engagement at Newcastle on New Year’s Day, when he will officially be aged 13 and partnered by Faye McManoman, who has won five times on the horse.

“He was my first professional winner after I’d ridden out my claim,” recalls Faye.

“I’m so pleased it was on him, he’s such a legend.  I didn’t get to ride him until a bit later in my career but I’m looking forward’s to New Year’s Day.”

And so are the rest of us!  Good luck to Athollblair Boy!

Athollblair Boy gave Faye McManoman her first winner as a professional jockey.