Age 29
Marital status Married to Hannah Cole, who is Ed Dunlop's racing secretary.
Licensed since May 1996
Retainer Freelance
Lives Newmarket
Drives Peugeot 607
Agent Richard Hunter
what’s your perfect night in, and your perfect night out? For a night in, I'd have a nice meal with Hannah and then settle down with one of my favourite DVDs. I want something to make me laugh, so it'll be Van Wilder: Party Liaison or one of my box sets of The Office. We'll probably see off a tub of Haagen-Dazs while we're watching. For a night out, a meal in a good Cantonese restaurant in Newmarket followed by a dance somewhere, although not at dirty De Niro's. I don't get back to Liverpool as much as I would like to, so a night out there is always something to look forward to.
You've picked up a two-day suspension – what are you going to do to entertain yourself? On the first day, I'll go for a long walk with our two dogs – Benson, a six-year-old labrador and Kevin, a four-year-old lurcher – then have a game of snooker with a pal. It's pretty competitive, and we rack up plenty of 30-plus breaks. The following day, Hannah and I will go shopping – we both love a trip to Lakeside or Bluewater.
What's your favourite holiday destination? When I was working in Florida with Todd Pletcher, Hannah and I took a four-hour drive from Miami to Key West – driving through the Keys was spectacular. For our honeymoon, though, we're trying to decide between New York and Cancun.
Who'd be your ideal three companions for the long drive to Musselburgh? I could happily travel with the three guys from Top Gear as they all make me laugh, but I'll settle for Jeremy Clarkson – he could drive and tell me how poor the electrics are in a Peugeot. I'd also take Gordon Ramsay to swear at him and get him to shut up when he goes on too much, and Ian Wright, to talk football with.
What CDs would you keep in the glove compartment for when the conversation dries up? I'd go for a Beach Boys medley, Jack Johnson and Mark Ronson.
Who are your biggest heroes – in and out of racing? I've got huge respect for Richard Quinn. When I was apprenticed to David Elsworth, Richard was riding a lot for him – he still does – and he was always there to help me with my riding and give guidance on how to conduct myself. Outside racing, I would have to go for Steven Gerrard – he never settles for anything other than winning.
What things excite you – and what do you find a turn-off? Liverpool FC winning excites me most. Again, I don't get to see them as much as I'd like, but I never miss them on TV. When they won the Champions League final a couple of years ago, it was on my birthday – a very special day. My pet hate, as with most jockeys, is traffic jams. A year ago, I was desperate to get back from riding at Lingfield for the North v South jockeys football match at Newmarket – what should have been an hour-and-a-half journey took five and a half hours.
What's the funniest thing that ever happened to you in the course of your work? I once had a ride on a horse for Michael Chapman, who was saddling two in the race. I can't remember who was riding the other one, but he took one look at mine, who was hairy and sweating, and grinned ‘I don't like the look of yours'. But I had the last laugh – Mr Chapman had got the saddlecloths mixed up, and he was on the hairy one.
If you could change one thing in racing, what would it be? The prize-money is going down and down, which is making life difficult for owners and trainers. We're luckier as jockeys, as we get our flat riding fee.
If you hadn't been a jockey, what would you like to have been?
A chef. I love cooking – I suppose fish dishes are my speciality.
What's the daftest question you have ever been asked by a journalist? There haven't been many. When I was an apprentice, people would always ask if I was basing myself on Frankie Dettori – I don't think I can be put on the same plane as him.
What are the best and worst rides you have ever given a horse? The best was in 2004 on Steely Dan at Lingfield. I knew the way to win on him was to remain totally motionless, and I managed to get him there in the last furlong without moving. The worst was giving Lear Spear too much to do in a mile maiden at Sandown, when he was evens favourite. Thankfully, David Elsworth and Raymond Tooth stood by me, and I was on board when he won the Cambridgeshire the same season.
What's the biggest regret of your career? Riding out my claim so quickly. Three years after sitting on a horse for the first time, I was taking on Richard Quinn and Frankie Dettori on equal terms, but without enough experience.