Daniel Tudhope, based in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, will be awarded his fourth title that runs across Northern-based Flat courses, after his previous wins in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Ben Curtis claimed the title by two wins last year in a thrilling battle with Tudhope, but this year the latter has made a storming comeback with an impressive 75 winners in the competition. This includes consistent winning tallies on Northern tracks such as Ayr (9), Beverley (9), Haydock (8), Pontefract (7) and Hamilton (7).
As it stands, rounding out the top three this year are David Allan with 69 winners and Kevin Stott with 67. With Allan having no booked rides at the remaining Cock O’ The North meetings and Stott with just five rides to come, Tudhope now cannot mathematically be caught at the top of the leaderboard, despite currently missing racing due to an injury.
On being confirmed as this year’s Cock O’ The North, Tudhope said: “I’m delighted to regain the Cock O’ The North title. There are some incredibly talented jockeys based in the North at the moment, the likes of Ben Curtis, David Allan and Kevin Stott among others. So to come out on top feels extra special.
The 35-year-old continued: “I really enjoy riding at all the Northern tracks so it feels fantastic to be rewarded in that respect. To hear the likes of Kevin Darley won it 10 times makes you realise how important the Cock O’ The North is – and to think I’ve won four!
“I’d like to thank all the owners and trainers that have supported me throughout the season. It’s been an amazing year for me and this is the icing on the cake.”
The Cock ‘O The North competition is a racing tradition that is contested amongst jockeys at Northern-based flat races. It begins at Doncaster’s Lincoln meeting at the end of March and concludes back at Doncaster for its November Handicap which also marks the end of the flat season.
The Northern racecourses below feature in the Cock O’ The North competition:
- Ayr
- Beverley
- Carlisle
- Catterick
- Chester
- Doncaster
- Hamilton
- Haydock Park
- Musselburgh
- Newcastle
- Pontefract
- Redcar
- Ripon
- Thirsk
- Wetherby
- York
Amongst his 75 winners at Northern racecourses, Tudhope’s Northern season highlights include two listed wins at York’s Ebor Festival in August, first in the Premier Yearling Stakes for trainer Tom Dascombe aboard Ever Given and another two days later with Attagirl in the Roses Stakes for Karl Burke.
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