Cheltenham’s two big jockeys standing 6ft4in going head-to-head on opening day

Horse racing’s two greatest stars are set to battle it out at Cheltenham on Tuesday for the honour of being topped the ‘world’s tallest jockey’.

The mantle has belonged to 6ft4in Jack Andrews, 25, since he suffered a 6in development spurt at 17 to tower over his horses and fellow riders whose common top is simply 5ft2in. He turned the large star eventually yr’s competition when his hovering stature was uncovered as he piloted Anightinlambourn within the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase.

Though the race proved a tall order and he got here up quick with the horse failing to complete Jack’s world standing rocketed as broadcasters from world wide demanded to know the way somebody with such lengthy legs may compete at racing’s prime competition.

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Jack is about to return this yr and is because of experience Henry’s Friend within the Maureen Mullins National Hunt Chase on Tuesday – the primary day of Britain’s prime racing competition. But he faces a pretender to his gigantic jockey crown within the form of Thomas Costello – who can also be 6ft 4in.

The 22-year-old is about to make his Cheltenham debut using Asian Master within the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on the identical day. Whatever occurs on the monitor they face a back-to-back size-up to determine who’s the tallest – and it might be the closest race of the week. Jack mentioned: “I will probably have to stand next to him to see who is taller.”

Before he knew they might not be going head-to-head on the course Tom mentioned: “I’m not sure yet what race he is going for but I am going let the horse do the talking.” He believes his big stature is a bonus over racing’s pint-sized pilots.

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“I’d like to think that by being tall you are able to ride with a good length of leg and wrap your legs round horses,” he mentioned. “I always think it’s easier to gather one up and keep them balanced. Henry’s Friend has a chance. He seems to be improving all the time.”

Costello, who will make his Cheltenham debut using Asian Master within the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, admitted being an enormous jockey was a tall order.

“I question myself sometimes why I am a jockey,” he said. “It’s robust, I can’t lie. I attempt to watch what I eat and do loads of train to attempt to carry on prime of my weight however it’s tough.’

“I am at least four or five inches taller than everyone else I have to work on that,” he said. “I used to be all the time the tall particular person in class and reached this top once I was 16. I’ve to pursue my faculty diploma in enterprise as with my top I’m most likely not going to final that lengthy as jockey. I’ll give it my greatest and luxuriate in it for a couple of years.

“Every day at with my height is a bonus – inevitably weight is going to catch up with me. With my height when I first walked in the weighing room they looked at me like I had four heads! But once you start riding winners you soon get accepted.”

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At this yr’s Cheltenham Festival, bookmakers Betfair are donating £10,000 to the Injured Jockey Fund for each winner that’s ridden by Rachael Blackmore. Throughout the season, £5,000 was being added for each one in every of Blackmore’s winners. But that has now been doubled for the best present on turf.

Proceeds from the initiative are being shared between two charities, the ‘Injured Jockeys Fund’ and ‘Irish Injured Jockeys’, which is able to assist make a big distinction to the lives of jockeys within the UK and Ireland.