Pointing People: Ryan Alderman

26-year-old Ryan Alderman rode his first winner – in his first pointing season – on the useful One For Rosie last month.

Unfortunately, he’s not going to be able to build on that debut success – this season at least – due to breaking his T6 vertebra in a gallops fall just a week after his maiden victory. Ryan, who works for former leading jockey Jason Maguire, told Jake Exelby about the frustrations arising for the accident, how he became involved in racing, and… cowboys!

How are you feeling at the moment?

I’ve been better, to be honest. I’m quite uncomfortable as I have to wear a back brace for two weeks and it’ll be 4-8 weeks before I can get back on a horse.

It happened when I was riding out at Charlie Longsdon’s – my Dad, Alan, was feed man there but was retiring so my sister Sinead and I went over. My horse’s bandage came undone, he stood on it… and somersaulted.

Annoyingly, I’d been offered three rides this month. My ambition this year was to have an outside ride, then an outside winner. But I’ll 100% be back next season.

Tell me about yourself and your background in racing

I’m from Sussex originally. My Dad was head lad for Gary Moore – he and Mum had met at the same yard, when John trained there. Dad rode for a while – mostly on the flat, but he had a few spins over hurdles. As soon as I sat on a horse, I wanted to be a jockey, and I watched Champions on TV every chance I had.

I’m a third generation jockey – my grandad Ron rode before the war and Sinead was an apprentice.

Riding out with Alan (left) and Sinead (right)

My family all have flat racing physiques, but I’m built like a jump jockey and knew I’d struggle with my weight, so went into hunt service with the Crawley & Horsham, while riding out for local trainer Dan Steele. I then moved to the Heythrop, which is when I started to get involved with racing yards.

Hunting with the Heythrop

I then went to Yorkshire, but Covid struck. I couldn’t hunt, so started riding out for Nicky Tinkler, then worked for him full-time. I did breaking and schooling, had great fund and fell in love with pointing – Nicky had five or six at the time.

Two years ago, I came back south to work for Nigel Twiston-Davies, then began to ride out for Jason and went full-time with him, at Birdlip near Cheltenham. Working for Jason has got me ready to ride in point-to-points – he’s helped me so much, for example in how to present a horse at a fence, and I wouldn’t be half the rider I am without him.

Leading up Earl of the Cotswolds, who won best turned out in the Ascot Gold Cup for Nigel Twiston-Davies

Riding work on One for Rosie at Lambourn upsides David Bass with Jason Maguire behind

I planned to start race-riding last year, but wasn’t 100% happy with my position at a fence, so went to school for Fergal O’Brien and Kim Bailey, when I thought, ‘I’m schooling babies for someone else – if I’m good enough to do this, I’m good enough to go pointing.’ I’d also schooled over the Cheltenham cross-country course and became confident enough to ride anything over fences.

Schooling round the Cheltenham cross-country course for Gordon Elliot – Ryan is on Mortal and Jason on Delta Work

Cooling down with Jason Maguire after pre-season cross-country schooling

Once upon a time, I wanted to go professional, but now I’m happy riding pointers, although I want to get my Cat A licence to ride under rules next season, then eventually my Cat B so I can race against professionals.

Which jockeys do you most admire?

It has to be Will Biddick – he’s the go-to pointing jockey and has won countless championships. He rides as well as any professional and you’d struggle to pick him out as an amateur amongst the pros.

Under rules, Jason, of course! Also Barry Geraghty and Paul Carberry – for the way they set a horse up for a fence. And I grew up watching videos of John Francome.

Which other pointers and rules horses would you most like to ride?

Tara Storm is a lovely big old-fashioned type, well put together with stacks of ability and loves racing. Fier Jaguen is as game as you like and attacks his races head-on. He’s an awkward jumper, but always finds a way to get from A to B.

Sprinter Sacre was my horse of a lifetime. He used to jump effortlessly and was poetry in motion.

What are your favourite courses?

Garthorpe, obviously! It was my favourite even before my winner. I went there with Nicky and Rosie won for Jason there last year. (Clerk of the Course) Jim Culloty has done a great job, with good grass and good fences.

Also Parham. It was our local track growing up and I’d love to go back there to ride.

What do you enjoy most about pointing?

You know that an older horse can have its day. At Didmarton, when I rode Rosie, 15-year-old Sametegal won the race – so you never know what you might be up against.

Everyone’s there to have fun and a good time, with the picnics in the back of the lorry.

What would you do if you were in charge of the sport?

I’d allow novice riders to claim 5lb for up to ten winners. Having us race against experienced jockeys teaches us more. Novice riders races can be helter-skelter!

And I’d have more conditions races for owner-trainers and trainer-jockeys. If you’ve only got one or two horses, it can be intimidating going up against the big boys and it gives you more chance of having a winner.

What hobbies do you have outside racing?

I enjoy getting out on the bike with Dad… to burn of the weight I’ve put on in the pub the night before! We do a loop up to Stow-on-the-Wold, past Diddly Squat (Jeremy Clarkson’s farm) and back to Enstone, where my parents live.

What about films, books and music?

Blazing Saddles always puts a smile on my face, even after the worst of days.

I like to listen to audiobooks. Roy Keane’s autobiography was good. I’m not a football fan, but he’s a real character who knows what he’s talking about.

For music, it’s the Beatles. My favourite of theirs is A Day In The Life. I got into them through Dad – it’s the music I grew up with.

What’s the best present you’ve ever been given?

When I was five, I was given a full cowboy outfit, with saddle, by Mum and Dad.

Eat your heart out Blazing Saddles

What would you do if you weren’t involved with racing?

I’d probably still be a huntsman… or a cowboy. Being a cowboy on a ranch would be my dream holiday destination. People probably say I ride like one already!