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Sam Ewing reflects on 'unbelievable' Cheltenham winner

The 20-year-old won the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

Tuesday, 26 March 2024
Sam Ewing reflects on 'unbelievable' Cheltenham winner

Sam Ewing is not getting carried away after earning his first Cheltenham Festival winner.

The 20-year-old took his first Grade 1 victory on Gordon Elliott-trained Stellar Story in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, sealing the win by reeling in frontrunner The Jukebox Man in the most exciting finish of the week at Prestbury Park.

It was not even meant to be Ewing’s best chance of a winner, the Antrim jockey- having been set to ride Elliott’s Coko Beach in the cancelled Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.

But Ewing revealed he was always confident of victory after clearing the last and hopes this landmark victory is the first of many.

“It was great to get a first winner at Cheltenham, especially for Gordon,” he said.

“It was a great moment.

“It’s hard to get winners and get on the right horses but to be able to get a winner at Cheltenham was brilliant.

“You would be hoping to pick up one when you’re over there and Coko Beach looked my best ride of the week but unfortunately, the race got called off so it was really nice to get one over the line.

“I have watched it back a couple of times, I thought I was going to get there about halfway up the straight, and I pulled it through, my lad really galloped.”

Victory at Cheltenham is the latest landmark in Ewing’s already impressive career despite only recently entering his 20s.

Ewing initially started on the flat, riding his first winner for Ger Lyons on Ardhoomey in 2020 before making the switch to jumps a year later.

The 20-year-old has spent the majority of the time since with Elliott, but has also learned under the likes of Noel Meade and Peter Fahey as part of his impressive racing education.

“I’ve been very lucky,” he added. “I started with Ger who was very good to me on the flat. I was lucky to ride a few nice horses for him.

“I only had two winners to my name when I went jumping and it took a while to get going. Hopefully it’ll get better for me as time goes on.

“I just have to give a massive thanks to Gordon for everything he has done for me. He has given me a lot of opportunities in big races when I’ve only been jumping for three years.”

Support also comes from closer to home, with father Warren the initial catalyst for Ewing’s love of racing, which began with showjumping aged six.

Warren has plenty of wisdom to share in his own right, with the elder Ewing instrumental in the development of Constitution Hill, alongside his fish business that sells smoked salmon to Harrods.

The 2023 Champion Hurdle winner is just one of many foals bought by Ewing and honed in point-to-points before being sold on and the pair revelled in a memorable week for both at Cheltenham.

“My dad was there, and he was absolutely delighted, he got a bit emotional,” he said.

“He had a good week at the sales, so he had a good week too.

“He always had a couple of point-to-pointers and as far as I know I was always mad for riding ponies. He got me a couple of ponies and then when I got older I would be torturing him to let me ride a horse.”

The decision to say yes proved a wise one, with Ewing tipped as a future champion jockey by Meade following a victory at Down Royal last weekend, but the 20-year-old is determined not to get carried away just yet.

“It’s always nice to hear those things but I just have to keep the head down, keep trying my best and hope he is right,” he said.

“I’m going to just keep doing what I’m doing, hopefully I keep improving on my rides and hopefully pick up a few nice horses along the way.

“I would love to ride as many winners in my career as possible. You can say you want to be champion jockey but everyone wants to be champion jockey.

“Please god, it’s the first of many. I just want to stay in one piece, you need the right people behind me and I am very lucky with the support I have.”

 



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