Horse Racing: Ponting wants to be the Real McCoy (From Gazette Series)

Joe Ponting set to make horse racing debut after getting amateur licence

9:00am Thursday 9th February 2012 in Gloucestershire Sport By Rob Iles

JOE PONTING has taken another step on the ladder to becoming the next AP McCoy.

The horse enthusiast from Cromhall got his amateur licence recently and will be able to ride for the first time in the Howick point-to-point meeting on February 26 - the day he turns 16.

Ponting had to pass a two-day course at the British School of Racing at Newmarket, which allows him to ride in point-to-point meetings and amateur races.

However, he has already set his sights on getting the ten winners or 20 amateur rides that would allow him to take a five-day course for the category B licence.

If he passed that he could be able to realise his dream of racing under rules against the likes of champion jockey McCoy.

Ponting said: “Every jockey looks up to AP McCoy. To be riding to the finish against McCoy is every young lad’s dream, and hopefully one day being the McCoy - that would be fantastic.

“I’ll try to get as many rides as I can and hopefully get a few winners to get my category B and start riding against the professionals.”

Ponting is looking forward to racing competitively and has also set his sights on running in the Hunters’ Chase at Leicester – for amateur riders – at the end of the month.

He said: “I can’t wait. It’s been such a long wait since I started ponies five or six years ago, but now it’s actually coming around and my friends from pony racing are getting licences as well, it’s brilliant.”

Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School pupil Ponting often helps trainer Jo Davis with her horses and trains his own at his home yard, with Dollydo becoming his first winner in a point-to-point meeting at Tiverton last year.

He enjoyed success as a pony racer, finishing second in the PRA Charles Owen Series in 2010, but says horse racing is much different.

Ponting said: “It’s a hell of a difference, not only with the horses but myself as well, being prepared, keeping up my fitness, having to prepare the horses and getting them jumping, it’s a lot more hard work.

“It’s a lot of dedication to get them fit and we don’t have the facilities of the top trainers, so it’s much more hard work.”