21-year-old Oliver Boyden, from Bromsgrove, works for licenced trainer Olly Murphy and rode his third winner between the flags on Joe Kidd at Lockinge on Easter Monday.
Unlike so many subjects of this series, he came to racing late, “by accident aged 16,” as he puts it. Oliver (pictured above winning on Shoal Bay) has made plenty of effort since then to realise his dream and Jake Exelby talked to him to find out about his career journey… and thwarted journalistic ambitions!
How did you get into racing and point-to-pointing?
I went to Worcester one day and had never seen a horse before! I loved it, so my dad bought me a day at Tom Gretton’s yard as a present. One of the ladies mucking out offered me a job and I spent a year working there on Saturdays – I’d never miss one, even if I was partying on the Friday! I took it seriously. I would watch Tom legging jockeys up and think, “I want to give this a go,” so I taught myself to ride. The first horse I sat on was Art Looker.
Oliver on Art Looker - the first horse he sat on
I wasn’t a very good rider then, but Tom put me in touch with Nick and Jane Williams, so I went to Devon for three weeks the next summer. I was 18 and had never been away from home for more than a couple of days apart from one lads’ holiday! Jane had me schooling eventing ponies and I learnt so much – I fell in love with it, decided that was what I wanted to do and went to work for them for two years.
They taught me a lot; I met loads of fantastic characters, and I liked their style. Their son Chester was so helpful and, thankfully, he’s recovering well from his gallops fall last year. They didn’t have horse walkers but let the horses out in a field to find their way naturally. Cantering round open fields in the pouring rain was brilliant!
Schooling with Chester Williams
I would go to Polly and Ed Walker’s once a week. Polly’s a brilliant horsewoman and I learnt heaps – I schooled and show jumped lots of different horses, old and young. She let me go where I wanted, jump what I liked and come home when I was ready. I remember taking a horse out one day, setting up cameras to film what I was doing and showing her afterwards.
I joined Olly Murphy in July 2021 – he was advertising for an amateur jockey and Nick was moving to France. So, I went to Olly’s for a day to ride out and he put me on Dubai Guest for my “interview” – he wasn’t a nice horse, and put me on the floor many times, but luckily not that day! Going there helped my riding – the head lad said I’d come on a stone. It made a big difference to have 25 people riding out and to school with great professionals like Aidan Coleman and Fergus Gregory, and top amateur James King.
How has your race-riding career developed?
I had my first ride for Nick on Hurricane Sivola at Chaddesley Corbett towards the end of my second season. It was a bizarre idea – he was an unraced four-year-old and nobody from the yard had ridden in a point-to-point, but he didn’t have to do it and I was grateful for the opportunity. Tom Gretton was there, and he helped me and showed me what to do – it was totally new to me, and I had no clue what I was doing! I then had two rides at Holnicote – one of which came via Polly and Ed – and completed my first race on Hurricane Sivola at Bratton Down. That was my success of the season!
Hurricane Sivola - Oliver's first ride
After I went to Olly’s, I kept going back to Devon to ride in points – Vinnie was getting spares and giving them to me. But my first winner was Friary Land at Dingley towards the end of last season. I’d ridden him at Ampton, where I felt the pressure, as it was my first ride for Olly, but he ran well to be second and won the next time I partnered him. I wasn’t as nervous at Dingley and the main thing was to enjoy it – we went to the pub afterwards and I drunk champagne and showed off the trophy!
I had my first ride under rules on Enduring Love for the Olly Murphy Racing Club on New Year’s Day at Towcester, and he gave me a brilliant ride, finishing second to Gina Andrews. I’d behaved myself on New Year’s Eve and went to bed early!
Enduring Love (no. 5) - Oliver's first ride under rules
My second winner was Shoal Bay at Shelfield Park. I’d galloped him a lot at home, but it wasn’t working out for him under rules, so Olly decided to send him pointing. I didn’t realise the owners (Roger and Carol Skan, who have enjoyed plenty of success under rules) would be there, but they seemed just as pleased as I was. The trophy was probably bigger than the ones they’d won at the Cheltenham Festival and Roger said it was like winning the Ryder Cup!
Who’s inspired you most in racing and pointing?
One was Vinnie Webster, who came to work for the Williams’ in my second season. He took me under his wing, got me on the simulator with (jockey coach) Rodi Greene, showed me what I was doing right and wrong when schooling… and took me gamekeeping and pheasant shooting! He has such a love for the sport and is a talented rider who worked for Willie Mullins.
Another is Tom Hooper, who used to ride pointers – a friend who I also met in Devon. He’s a level-headed person who encourages me and gives me advice, not just on riding but on being patient with my career. He’s been very supportive.
Which jockeys do you most admire and why?
James King’s a good friend of mine and has plenty of winners – I’d like to do as well as him. Vinnie, of course – I like to see him win. And Bradley Gibbs, another friend. While I admire them, I compete against them, so can’t be too admiring!
What are your favourite courses?
Dingley, obviously, as I had my first winner there. Although the fences are upright and quite scary! And Chaddesley Corbett, my local track and scene of my first ride. I always look forward to going there.
What are your plans for the rest of the season and beyond?
I don’t think my weight’s a problem and I can do 10st 7lbs easily, so I’d like to go conditional at some point when the time’s right. It would be great if a space were to open up at Olly’s but for now, I’d like to have as many pointing winners as possible, and we’ll see what happens in the summer. I had two rides at the weekend (Shoal Bay was second and Bobby Bow third) and hopefully they’ll both run quite often.
What do you enjoy most about pointing?
I like the fact that I can be in Devon one weekend and Yorkshire the next, meeting lots of different people and going to different places. A good example is when I Facebook messaged trainer Richard Evans to see if he needed anyone – I went there to ride out, had breakfast and watched the racing on TV. You go from not knowing someone to sitting in their living room!
Do you have any funny moments from your time as a rider?
Lots of youngsters are ready to ride at 16 but I didn’t go to buy my first britches until I was 18. My. Dad said, “Are you sure you want them in white? They’ll get caked in mud!” That sums up my family’s knowledge of racing.
What would you do if you were in charge of the sport?
It would be good to get more youngsters like me from a non-racing background into pointing, but I wouldn’t know how to do it!
What would you be doing if you weren’t a jockey?
I tried to get an apprenticeship at Sky Sports and got a long way but fell at the final hurdle! So, I’d be a journalist, presenter, or performer – my dad presents on Hereford & Worcester radio.
Do you have any hobbies outside racing?
I’m a big West Brom fan and go with my dad and brother – I’ve had a season ticket since I was ten. I go to relax and don’t think about racing.
What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken?
Going to work for Nick and Jane! I had a few university offers but turned them down, although most of my friends went to uni, or did apprenticeships.
Tell me something I wouldn’t know from asking these questions.
I spent three weeks in France last summer riding out for Hugo Merienne. It was a great experience.
Oliver in France last summer