Three top jockeys nominated for February Jockey of the Month award

News | 3^rd March 2021

Harry Skelton, Richard Johnson and Matt Griffiths have been nominated after their fantastic performances throughout February. Vote for who you think should win...

Here are the February Jockey of the Month results.

The vote ended at 1:00pm Thursday 4th March and Matt Griffiths has announced as the winner on our social media channels.

You can also find each jockey’s achievements throughout the month below the results.

Matt Griffiths

Matt Griffiths enjoyed the biggest moment of his career to date when winning the Grade 1 Ascot Chase aboard Dashel Drasher. A huge win for the Somerset man, it was his first Graded win, so to do it at the highest level in the sport is some achievement.

In a hard-run contest Griffiths and the Jeremy Scott-trained Dashel Drasher had to show serious guts to hold off the more fancied Master Tommytucker in a slow motion finish up the straight at Ascot.

Griffiths and Dashel Drasher had shown a real liking for the Berkshire venue, winning their two previous starts at Ascot in bold front-running style.

The pair had to step up again though heading into Grade 1 company for the first time; with both horse and rider eventually rising to the challenge with aplomb

After the victory, Griffiths told The Sun, “crossing the line I think everyone saw what he means to me. To even be associated with him I know I’m lucky and the horse is still progressing”.

Richard Johnson

The highlight of Richard Johnson’s fantastic month was without doubt an incredible day at Sandown Park on 6th February, as the former champion bagged a top-class treble.

The first leg came in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase in the gold and green silks of Sporting John. A masterful ride from the veteran jockey.

The second victory saw Johnson partner up with a horse to whom he already owes so much, Native River. The 11-year-old chaser and Richard Johnson were back to their very best, putting in a spectacular front-running performance to win the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase.

The pair put a high quality field of Bristol De Mai, Santini and Yala Enki to the sword with a relentless display.

The cherry on top of a wonderful treble was Deise Aba in the Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase, the horse is expected to run next time out in in this year’s Grand National.

Richard Johnson ended February in joint fifth in the Jump Jockeys’ Championship.

Harry Skelton

Harry Skelton was February’s winning-most rider, recording a massive 23 victories in the shortest month of the year.

The 31 year old rocketed up the table in the Jump Jockeys’ Championship to second place; now in a position to challenge the defending champion Brian Hughes at the top of the pile.

Amongst the 23 victories were a pair of trebles at Warwick and Ascot as well as four doubles at Kelso, Newcastle (twice) and Warwick.

The best day out of the lot was the treble at Warwick on 15th February which included victory on Allmankind in the Grade 2 Kingmaker Chase.

🐎Allmankind wins the Kingmaker in the hands of Harry Skelton, making it three for three over fences for trainer @DSkeltonRacing 👏@AgeturUK pic.twitter.com/kfTzK2KJHn
— Warwick Racecourse (@WarwickRaces) February 15, 2021