Teenage amateur jockey Freddie Gingell celebrated an emotional first winner under Rules just a month after turning 16, before paying tribute to his mum who passed away in May 2020.
Schoolboy Gingell, who will sit his GCSE exams this year, said he was thrilled to achieve his dream of riding a winner at his local track, Wincanton, after partnering West Approach to glory in the Colin Lewis Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase.
The youngster, who is based in nearby Mere, received an emotional reception from friends and family when returning to the winner’s enclosure at the Somerset track. It was also a first victory for the 12-year-old Westerner gelding since landing a Grade Three contest at Cheltenham in 2019.
Faced with just one rival, West Approach put in some mighty leaps in the hands of Gingell. The 6/4 chance, who is trained by Gingell’s grandfather Colin Tizzard, bounded clear in the home straight to score by 21 lengths over the odds-on favourite Alcala.
😲 16 years old
— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) February 4, 2022
👏 4th ride under rules
🏠 Five minutes from home
👏 Freddie Gingell will still be on a high after his emotional victory on West Approach at Wincanton yesterday, which he dedicated to his mum who passed away two years ago.pic.twitter.com/pUAA9tETmh
Gingell said: “It was amazing. This horse jumps for fun and when I’m schooling him at home he is always jumping off. He is amazing and I knew I had a good horse underneath me.
“I’ve got racing blood in me so this is what I should be doing hopefully. It is amazing being in the weighing room but we have a few of the boys in schooling on a Wednesday so I know most of them which is even better.
“My confidence did start growing turning in but I still had three tough fences to get over. I couldn’t believe it really (when I saw the winning post looming). It is only my fourth ride and I’m still a novice rider. It is amazing to have a winner under Rules.
“It does mean more to ride that first winner here as I can’t say I ever miss a meeting at Wincanton. If I go to school, I’m always here for the last race.”
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Gingell, who lost his mum Kim to cancer aged 43 nearly two years ago, said he believes he had an extra pair of eyes watching his every move.
He explained: “Mum is probably up there crying now wishing all the best to me. It is a shame that she can’t be here to see it but that is life. She wanted me to do my best.
“I want to stay amateur this season and see where that takes me. I leave school in May and hopefully concentrate more on my racing then.
“It would be nice to get my conditional licence next season but I’m only 16 and in no rush.”
Among the first to congratulate Gingell in the winner’s enclosure was his grandfather, Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Colin Tizzard, who described the race as “beautiful” to watch.
He said: “My heart is still beating now as for the last circuit the horse was absolutely loving it and Fred was loving it and that goes through the reins.
“I’ve never seen this horse jump like that. I know it was only a two horse race but it was beautiful to watch. It was lovely for Fred. He wants to be a jockey and he is advertising himself now.
“We will never forget Kim but things have moved on. If she is watching now she will have loved every second of it.
“Today is to be enjoyed for the fact that a young rider that has got no nerve in his body and he can see a stride and a horse sees a stride and off they go. It was absolutely fantastic.
“Of course he is going to have a good chance (of being a jockey) because of where he is.”
