Tristan Durrell’s standout victory in the Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury on Panic Attack last weekend marked an early career highlight for the young jockey who began his riding career in the Pytchley Pony Club.
The impressive victory, just two weeks after the horse won the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham (under Harry Skelton) prompted trainer Dan Skelton to say, “he’s given her a brilliant ride, fair play to Tristan, we trusted him.”
“He has improved so much as a rider, like no other rider I’ve managed. It’s down to confidence and Harry (Skelton) giving him the right pointers and us filling him with confidence.”
Durrell’s racing journey began in the Pytchley Pony Club. He ran in a number of Pony Racing Authority Pony Racing fixtures and qualified for the National Finals at Garthorpe in 2016.
Graduating to horses and going to work for Dan Skelton at 15, Tristan crossed paths with Nick Pearce, who gave Tristan the ride on a couple of ex-Skelton pointers he was training at the time.
As fate would have it Durrell scored his first point-to-point win on Kashmir Peak on only his second run for Pearce, and did it at his local track at Guilsborough.
This working relationship with Pearce blossomed, with Durrell notching up further wins on Kashmir Peak and subsequently Don Poli, who he qualified for the Cheltenham Foxhunter in 2020.
Five years on, and now vying for second jockey status at the Skelton yard, Durrell still spends much of his time travelling to meetings with Pearce. “He’s one of the nicest people you could come across, Nick Pearce said. “He’s as hard working as anyone I’ve ever met, and is thoroughly liked by everybody in the yard. We could not be happier that he is doing really well this year.”
Keen to follow in Tristan’s footsteps? Pony racing is a great way to start, and you can take part on any pony. See the Pony Racing Authority website for more details, and maybe we will see you in the races we hold at Guilsborough each year, in March.