Riding Highway Express and HRH The Princess Royal

I have fond memories of the horse pictured on the right in this photo, Highway Express. I had 17 rides on him – we came in the first four 14 times and he gave me one of my first winners at Cheltenham. He was owned by Dennis Crease, Ron Hodges, Tony Reed and Malcolm White, was bred by Malcolm White and trained by Ron Hodges. Highway Express was a great jumper with masses of scope – he could stand off a fence a long way when taking off and land just as far the other side – a real thrill and I look back now and think how lucky I was to ride such a horse and even more amazing to be paid for it!

We finished 2^nd on this day in 1988 at Stratford. The other jockey next to me is none other than HRH The Princess Royal. I am a huge fan of Princess Anne and her skill as a horsewoman. Finishing behind us that day at Stratford was Cool Ground, the future Gold Cup winner (who I also had the pleasure to ride in a race once before). As always, I am thankful to the horses I rode and the owners and trainers that helped me in my career as a National Hunt jockey.