The Final for the Racing Excellence Hands and Heels Series will be held at Ayr on Saturday 18 April, on the same day as the Coral Scottish National. Mikey Hamill and Sean Bowen are battling it out for the title of Champion in what is proving to be a very close finish. Mikey, who has so far ridden nine winners since taking out his licence is Conditional Jockey to Alex Dunn. Two points behind him is Sean Bowen, who has clocked up 41 career wins so far and is based with Paul Nicholls. Both jockeys have won two of the series races and have been placed in a further eight between them.

Throughout the 15 race series, jockeys are awarded points for walking the course and for being placed. The designated BHA Jockey Coach also has the opportunity to give points to the jockey of the day. For this they need to show professionalism, conduct themselves well and demonstrate good riding skills.

In the final jockeys will be awarded place points only, 1^st place – 5pts, 2^nd place – 3pts, 3^rd place – 2pts and 4^th place – 1 pt. Jockeys riding in the hands and heels races may carry a whip and are allowed to pull it through but are not allowed to use it for encouragement.

Racing Excellence runs alongside the BHA Jockey Coaching Programme (JCP) and is the industry accreditation for all apprentice and conditional races which run under hands and heels or training race conditions. The JCP gives all Apprentices and Conditionals the opportunity to have a coach. All coaches, who are all ex Jockeys, are on hand to help with fitness, riding technique, nutrition and race reviews. A coach will attend every Racing Excellence race to conduct the pre-race course walk and will also debrief afterwards.

The Conditional Jockeys will be in good hands for the final as the coach on course will be record breaking ex-jockey Peter Scudamore. Peter, eight times Champion Jockey, rode well over 1500 winners in his 15 year career including 13 Cheltenham Festival winners.

The winner of the series will collect a £1000 prize of their choice to be used towards developing their career, this could be anything from a fuel card to a horse simulator. Previous winners of the Hands and Heels Conditional Series include Jack Sherwood, Tom Garner and James Best.

For more information on Racing Excellence or the Jockey Coaching Programme please contact Jennie Durrans, [email protected] or call 01638 669039.