Rob Hornby comes from a countryside background, growing up on a farm in Shropshire, before leaving school at 16 to become apprentice to Andrew Balding his Kingsclere training operation, a path also taken by modern day greats, Oisin Murphy and William Buick.  

Hornby’s first Group 1 success came on Scope, trained by Ralph Beckett, in the Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp in 2021. This was followed by success back home in 2022 in two Group 1 races at the Newmarket July Festival, taking both the Falmouth Stakes on the Beckett-trained Prosperous Voyage and the July Cup on the Balding-trained Alcohol Free. 

Known for his calm style in the saddle, Hornby has built a reputation as one of the most dependable riders in the Flat weighing room. His composure in big-race situations and ability to get the best out of his rides has made him a trusted partner for leading trainers on some of the sport’s biggest days.