Lilly Pinchin has had a fine start to the 2022/23 Jumps season, bagging 21 winners to date including a couple of high profile successes on ITV and smashing her previous best tally of 14 winners in the season. The 23-year-old conditional rider has has an opportunity for another high-profile victory this weekend when she rides Tea For Free in the SkyBet Chase at Doncaster.
Pinchin said: “Tea For Free is in great order. He’s a horse who takes everything in his stride and has come out of Newbury in absolutely flying form. He is a gentleman, a really kind horse. Jess, who looks after him, has done a brilliant job.
“I was very impressed with him at Newbury. I rode him in a novice chase last season, when he won at Huntingdon, and then he won another two races at Uttoxeter. He’s a very progressive horse and hopefully he can just keep progressing.”
Tea For Free has proved versatile over fences, winning at a variety of distances between two miles and 6 furlong and three miles and two furlongs. Pinchin believes the recent drop back in trip has suited the Susan Monkland-owned gelding.
Pinchin said: “The trip might have just been a bit too far on his second win at Uttoxeter (over 3m 2f) but we’ve dropped him back in trip and it was very impressive the way he won at Newbury.
“I think the track at Doncaster will suit Tea for Free. It’s the same sort of track as Newbury and I think that will play to his favour - a nice big, open galloping track. He jumps for fun, so the fences will be good for him. I think there’s masses of improvement left in him. He’s a bit of a star here and I think that we’re going for a big race which should be right up his street.”
Lilly Pinchin’s form has not gone unnoticed and has attracted high praise from a number of people, including legendary former jockey and current ITV pundit Ruby Walsh, who referred to her as “the next generation of female riders”.
Pinchin is delighted with how things are going since she joined the Charlie Longsdon team and admits Saturday’s SkyBet Chase would be up there with anything else she has won thus far in her career.
Pinchin, who started out on the Pony racing circuit, said: “At the end of last summer, Charlie offered me a job and I was delighted. I’ve ridden Charlie a lot of winners and I really enjoy riding his horses. If I was stood here last season, I would have said I wouldn’t be able to reach something like this. It just goes to show when you have the support and the horses behind you, like Tea for Free, you can build on things and I’ve just been so grateful. There are some lovely owners here supporting me and even when you’re struggling you have great support and that’s the most important thing.
“If Tea for Free was to go and win the SkyBet Chase it would be one of my biggest career wins. I think it could help move me onto bigger things, so fingers crossed he can go and do that.”
About Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse is a Group 1 racecourse and one of the oldest racecourses for horse racing in Britain, typically hosting 37 race fixtures per year. Home of the prestigious Cazoo St Leger Festival in September, this is the leading sporting occasion of the Autumn calendar and an event that draws thousands of expectant racegoers from far and wider the experience the historic racing moment.
Outside of racing, Doncaster Racecourse is renowned for hosting exceptional corporate events and conferences, weddings, private parties, and the infamous 'Christmas Live' Christmas party nights.
