Jockey Of The Month: Top Trio Kick Off 2022 In A Winning Fashion

Features | 7^th February 2022

Three top class jockeys, only one winner! 2022 started in style for these three and now they need your votes. Vote now...

The three jockeys nominated for January Jockey of the Month 2022 are Nico De Boinville, Tom Bellamy and Adrian Heskin.

All three nominees had big race winners throughout the month. Find out more about each jockeys’ month below.

Voting has now closed with Tom Bellamy winning with 63% of the vote.

Nico De Boinville

De Boinville, best known for his association with six-time Champion trainer Nicky Henderson, kicked off 2022 in scintillating fashion.

Exciting young hurdler Constitution Hill showed the racing world that he was the real deal when romping to victory in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle on the 8th January.

“This is some horse, quite an animal. I couldn’t believe when I looked round how far clear I was. He made very easy work of it” said de Boinville following the race.

De Boinville also tasted Grade 1 success when partnering Shishkin in the Clarence House Chase.

In one of the great clashes of recent times, Shishkin proved his top talent as he fought off Irish raider Energumene.

The 32-year-old jockey rounded off the month with Grade 2 success in the Cotswold Chase aboard Chantry House.

Adrian Heskin

Off the back of a December in which he enjoyed Graded success with Tritonic and Threeunderfiver, Adrian Heskin continued his strong form into January.

Threeunderfive obliged again in the Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase in what was likely their final run before the pair line up at the Cheltenham Festival to really test themselves against the best of the best.

Heskin also scored on Cheltenham Trials Day as the Alan King-trained North Lodge took out the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle to remain unbeaten in his short career to date.

Tom Bellamy

Tom Bellamy is having quite the year having recently surpassed his previous season’s best of 37 winners.

It was his taking victory in Warwick’s Grade 3 Classic Handicap Chase that means he is a worthy nominee in the January Jockey of the Month competition.

Eclair Surf was given a bold, front-running ride by Tom Bellamy leaving trainer Emma Lavelle delighted with the jockey.

“Tom is a massive team player which is great for us and when he’s riding, yes he’s thinking about the day, but he’s also thinking about the next day and the next day,” said Lavelle.

For Bellamy it was also a hugely important victory for himself and the partnership.

“This means a lot, it’s certainly the biggest win we’ve had together, a £100,000 handicap,” he said.