Age 24
Marital status In a relationship with fellow jockey Chris Catlin
Licensed since 2001
Retainer Freelance, but I mostly ride for Michael Bell
Lives Newmarket
Drives Audi A3
Agent Guy Jewell
What's your perfect night in, and your perfect night out? Last week I had a Body Shop party at my house with a load of the girls. We enjoyed some wine and ended up buying far too much – it was definitely fun, but not cheap! My ideal nightout is in Nottingham with my two sisters and three stepsisters – dinner, a few drinks and a dance somewhere.
You've picked up a two-day suspension – what are you going to do to entertain yourself? Like the other lads, I'd also have to take my partner out shopping. On the second day, I'd get to a beach to take my dogs for a long walk.
What's your favourite holiday destination? I go skiing every winter. My favourite resort would have to be somewhere in the Three Valleys. Usually there are about 15 of us, so we hire a chalet and have a great laugh.
Who'd be your ideal three companions for the long drive to Musselburgh? I don't have much luck driving, so Lewis Hamilton would be behind the wheel. Hopefully he'd get us therein one piece. I'd also take the golfer Nick Dougherty, who is very good-looking. There'd be no talk about golf, though, because I don't play. My third companion would be Sheikh Mohammed. I'd spend the whole journey convincing him that I can ride his horses better than anyone else.
What CDs would you keep in the glove compartment for when the conversation dries up? I like any music but at the moment am listening to the Enemy, the Feeling and Gym Class Heroes. Whenever I'm tired, I need something I know the words to for a good sing-along, so there's always a Belinda Carlisle CD somewhere in my car.
Who are your biggest heroes – in and out of racing? I've read all Jenny Pitman's books. Her autobiography shows how she had nothing handed to her on a plate and had to work for everything. She's the number one woman in racing. Outside racing, I admire Sir Alan Sugar for making a huge amount of money out of nothing. I'm also a big fan of his TV programme The Apprentice.
What things excite you – and what do you find a turnoff? In racing there's nothing more exciting than winning a race by a short head. I'd rather win in a photo-finish than by three lengths. At the same time, the biggest turn-off is losing by a head. Then I'd rather be last. You know there will be people saying that the horse would have won if a lad had been on board.
What's the funniest thing that ever happened to you in the course of your work? An apprentice (who will remain unnamed) wasn't the strongest when he arrived at Michael Bell's and one day we were riding a piece of work on the racecourse side at Newmarket. When we came to pull up, he fell off and I found myself upsides a loose horse. His legs had literally gone underneath him. When I looked back, I saw him running to catch his horse and his legs went again. He just lay on the ground in a heap. I'm glad to say he's improved a lot since then!
If you could change one thing in racing, what would it be?
There would be no male jockeys. That would make my job a lot easier!
If you hadn't been a jockey, what would you like to have done? I'd like to have been a vet. My mum is a riding instructor and so I have always been around horses.
Do you ever read the Betfair forum? Only when I've had a winner! It's complimentary when people are polite about you, but not when you've been beaten. If I've been beaten (especially a short head) I would never read it. It's not good for your confidence.
What's the daftest question you've ever been asked by a journalist? Journalists always ask me when I'm going to get married. The answer is never.
What are the best and worst rides you have ever given a horse? The worst was at Epsom – on Channel 4. It was about my sixth ride and the first time I'd ridden there. It was on a horse called Sposa and he pulled me to the front. I suddenly realised everyone else was crossing to the other side of the track and I was alone. As I began to cross over, they crossed back. I ended up zigzagging all over the course and coming down the middle. The horse finished sixth, beaten four lengths. On the other hand, I once got ride of the week at Brighton. I boxed a rival in and beat it a head.
What's the biggest regret of your career? Again at Epsom, the BBC had a microphone on Frankie to use during the race. He was riding the favourite and I was on a 100-1 outsider. I cringe even now thinking about this. I kept on calling to him, “Give us a shout if you want out”, which came out on the TV loud and clear, and took a lot of talking my way out of.