FINLEY MARSH
You can FOLLOW Finley on TWITTER @Finleymarsh123 below with best pal GOODWOOD CRUSADER
A new series of ‘RISING STAR’ jockey interviews kicks off with me talking to Finley Marsh, who has had a tremendous 2017 so far and is based with former champion jockey Richard Hughes.
He recently rode a 187/1 double at Salisbury on BERINGER (declared Tue 6:20 Chelmsford) & DANDY FLAME
Date and Place of Birth
28 February 1999 in Somerset
Who inspired you to get into racing and when did you first realise you wanted to be a jockey
A guy I used to work for at a riding school, Bob Andrews. I realised I wanted to be a jockey when I was 13
What age did you first ride / first actual race ride
I first rode aged 17 and my first ride was PRESTO BOY at Kempton over 5f on 9 November 2016
When was your first winner and where and how many winners so far
10 January 2017 PANCAKE DAY at Southwell over 5f for David Griffiths in Hands and Heels apprentice handicap, winning by a neck
I have had 16 winners so far from just over 150 rides
What are your strengths and weaknesses
Strengths – I listen to advice and work hard
Weaknesses – I hate to mess up (I wouldn’t call that a weakness Fin but a good attitude to have)
Who are your jockey idols you look up to or maybe based yourself on
I look up to Richard Hughes and Ryan Moore. I base myself on Ryan Moore
Which would you regard as your biggest win
Which racecourses do you like / dislike and why
I haven’t ridden round many racecourses yet but my favourite is Lingfield. I dislike Southwell as I don’t like the surface
Who gives you your best advice
Ryan Moore told me that I have to learn who the right and wrong people are to listen to. David Stratton told me you have two ears and one mouth for a reason – listen twice as much as you speak
Favourite horse – that you have ridden and would like to have ridden
I enjoyed riding TEMPLE ROAD
What time do you get up in the morning most days and what would be your average kind of day
Get up at 5:30am and muck two out, ride five and go racing if I have a ride
Which stables do you work for or ride out at the moment
I work for Richard Hughes
Who are your best mates in the weighing room
Best mates in weighing room Shane Kelly and David Parkes
What’s the worst part of the job
Worst part of job is driving
What hobbies or sports do you like to watch or play away from racing
I enjoy running and tennis
Favourite food and drink
Pasta with bacon and a tomato sauce
Favourite TV and film
Film James Bond
Which course would you like to ride a winner at this year (even if you’ve already ridden a win there)
Winner at Newmarket please !
How do you like and compare the different All-weather surfaces/courses
Southwell is a lot different to any other all-weather tracks and it isn’t a nice track to ride
If you were put in charge of racing for one day what changes would you make
I would change the weights in racing put them up
What are your ambitions for the near future
My ambitions is to be champion apprentice
Can you give readers a horse to follow for the rest of the season
MR MINERALS
for Richard Hughes
Thanks very much to Finley and my apologies to him for the delay as we did do the interview a fair while back so some answers maybe slightly out of date. Since then he has a tremendous year not least with GOODWOOD CRUSADER. Best of luck going forward.
PigeonSwoop4 