The new generation of jockeys and trainers feature prominently in the enthralling second series currently captivating viewers.
The six-part documentary follows jump racing’s biggest stars throughout last season. They include teenage rider Freddie Gingell as he sets his sights on big-race success and chases the Champion Conditional Jockeys’ title.
He enters the scene at Cheltenham. As Paul Nicholls’ second jockey, his is a supporting role as the 14-times Champion Trainer prepares his runner for the Paddy Power Gold Cup.
All eyes are on Harry Cobden. He rides the stable’s main hope, Ginny’s Destiny, the hot favourite in the prestigious handicap at the home of jumps racing.
As the race unfolds, the spotlight moves from Cobden’s weakening mount to young Freddie aboard stablemate Il Ridoto. The pair storm up the famous Cheltenham hill to big-race glory.
It’s a fascinating insight into how Freddie copes with the pre-race pressures, how he prepares to ride in such a high profile race and then follows him as he enjoys the emotions of triumph.
Freddie comes from one of the best-known National Hunt racing families. His grandfather is Colin Tizzard, who trained Native River to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup before handing over the reins to his Dorset stable to his son Joe.
The 19-year-old always looked destined for a successful career as a jockey but he had to cope with the heart-breaking loss of his mum, Kim, when still just a star of the pony racing circuit.
As he pulls up Il Ridoto after winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup his screams of joy soon turn to emotional thoughts of his mum.
Like he says: “It’s days like this you dream of. Mum was a massive driving force of my life – if it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t be where I am today. Hopefully, I’m making her proud.”
Not only is he making his family proud but he is impressing those capable of taking his career from promising rookie to top jockey. He could easily be viewed as a threat by his fellow riders but that is the very nature of sport.
Cobden has seen it all before. With the confidence of a Champion Jockey he grins “Freddie is a young lad who has done very well in the last two years and has improved massively. Is he a threat? Do you want diplomatic Harry?”
Champions: Full Gallop also follows one of the youngest jumps trainers as he prepares his stable star for one of the biggest races of the season.
Noel George grew up surrounded by racehorses in the Cotswolds. His father, Tom, has won a dozen Grade 1 races and is one of the best-respected trainers in Britain.
Noel made the ambitious move to set up training in partnership with Amanda Zetterholm in the beautiful forests outside Chantilly in France.
The 26-year-old is followed as he returns to Britain to run Il Est Francais in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day declaring “we are coming to win”.
The cameras capture every emotion as father and son watch the big race unfold. Il Est Francais holds a clear lead for much of the race and his young trainer gets more and more animated as the field gets closer and closer to the packed stands.
They’re still in front jumping the last but, with the agony etched on Noel’s face, Irish raider Banbridge charges by on the run-in.
It is the not be for the adopted Frenchman. The spring is missing from his step as father and son walk back to the winners’ enclosure but his ambitions are only heightened as he responds to the defeat by saying “we’ll win in next year”.
We’ll find out whether those comments come true next month. That’s the thing with racing, much like Champions: Full Gallop, the drama never ends.
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