Yorkshire-based jockey Daniel Tudhope will be awarded the traditional ‘Cock O’ The North’ prize for the second consecutive year at Doncaster Racecourse this Saturday.
The Cock O’ The North is contested amongst Flat races at Northern-based racecourses from The Lincoln meeting on 24 March to the November Handicap this coming Saturday 10 November, and Tudhope has surged clear of the field with 99 winners.
Tudhope secured a four from four quadruple at Newcastle last night and sits 21 wins ahead of Joe Fanning in second and 26 ahead of Ben Curtis in third place.
The 32-year-old has enjoyed another terrific season at Northern racecourses, with all of his top performing courses this year based in Yorkshire, reaching double-figures at Doncaster, Beverley, Pontefract and Thirsk.
On Saturday, Tudhope will be formally presented with the traditional Cock O’ The North winners’ cap and will subsequently receive £2,500 in prize money.
On winning the title for the second year in a row, Tudhope said: “It’s great to be named Cock O’ The North for the second time. Last year it was a bit of a shock to be honest but it was a fantastic achievement for me. To have retained the cap, I’m delighted.
“To hear the likes of Kevin Darley won it 10 times, it does make you realise how prestigious it is. It’s something that, when I retire, I will look back on with great pride.
“I’d like to thank all of those who support me throughout the season. In particular, my agent Laura Way has been fantastic and I’ve had more rides than ever before. The more rides you get, the more opportunities you have to ride winners.”
Discussing his success at racecourses in Yorkshire, he said: “It helps when you ride more often at the Yorkshire tracks. I’ve gained experience from racing year after year at them, and it gives us northern jockeys an advantage over the southern jockeys who come up to Yorkshire to race. They are a crucial part of my success and I hope it continues for years to come.”
Tudhope’s biggest wins at the Northern-based racecourses this year include Soldier's Call in the Wainwrights Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster on 14 September and Dolphin Vista in the William Hill Doonside Cup Stakes at Ayr on 20 September.
During the year, he also enjoyed two Group 1 wins aboard Laurens, in the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on 15 September and in the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on 6 October.
The Cock O’ The North title is thought to have originated with Alexander Gordon, the 4th Duke of Gordon (1743-1827) with the head of the Gordon clan given that title. It’s not known when the title entered racing parlance but has been used for many decades now. Edward Gide won it no fewer than 16 times whilst Kevin Darley picked up the famous cap 10 times.
2018 Cock O’ The North – top three
Daniel Tudhope – 99 wins
Joe Fanning – 78 wins
Ben Curtis – 73 wins
The Northern racecourses below feature in the Cock O’ The North competition, which runs from Saturday 24 March until Saturday 10 November 2018:
- Ayr
- Beverley
- Carlisle
- Catterick
- Chester
- Doncaster
- Hamilton
- Haydock Park
- Musselburgh
- Newcastle
- Pontefract
- Redcar
- Ripon
- Thirsk
- Wetherby
- York
