Stories From the Saddle: Tash Cookson

Tash striding for home on Supremely Lucky at a scenic Duncombe Park (Tom Milburn)

21-year-old Tash Cookson, from Morpeth in Northumberland, has proved herself one of the leading female jockeys on the northern circuit in recent years – with multiple wins on the likes of Blouebrav, last weekend’s Hutton Rudby victor Supremely Lucky, and Vivas. Runner-up on countback in the national novice title last season and just missing out on the Northern Area female riders championship, Tash talked to Jake Exelby this week about learning from experience, and her ambitions in – and out of – the saddle.

Talk me through your career in racing so far and how you got into point-to-pointing in the first place?

I’ve always been around horses and Dad (her father James) used to ride, so I was dead set on it from a young age. I did my A-levels at Sedbergh – a sporty school, which is the only reason I stayed (!) – and rode my first winner when I was still at school.

After that, I went to work for Micky Hammond for two seasons. I’m based back at home now and freelance, going where I can. I ride out for John Dawson two days a week – the experience I’ve gained there has been invaluable – and I’ve just started going to Jimmy Moffatt’s. I’ve also ridden for Susan Corbett and my parents have a mare – So Ladylike – in training with Nick Alexander, so I’ve got a Category B licence to ride against professionals. The more practice the better! (Tash is too modest to tell me that she rode her first winner under rules on the mare at Hexham in June).

Talk me through your first ride… and how your career has progressed

I started pointing having hunted on Oscar Stanley, my first ride, who we got from Joanna Walton. First time out, we pulled up after a circuit – I didn’t realise how quick they’d go! He was a good schoolmaster.

Global Racing, my first winner (in 2021), was an absolute legend. I wish I had him now I know what I’m doing! That day, he just towed me to the front – I didn’t know how to push him and lost both my stirrups! I didn’t appreciate the win enough at the time, and just thought it would continue like that, but you have to work really hard.

It wasn’t until I went to Micky’s that I really learnt to ride racehorses, as we don’t have a gallop at home, and I got more interested – and more competitive – the more I understood. It was in the 2022/2023 season, my last year at Micky’s (when Tash had four wins between the flags), that I really got going. The season before that, I’d had three unseats. It was hard at the time, but the making of me, as it helped me learn to ride better.

When I left Micky’s, we got a couple more horses at home.

You were nearly female champion novice last season. Was this ever a goal?

Last year was great and may have been even better if Vivas could have run more than once – he cut himself in the field and tore a muscle. I’d kept an eye on the top novices the previous season and Amber Jackson-Fennell and Molly Landau both had 13 winners, so I didn’t think I’d have the faintest chance. As the season progressed, I wouldn’t say I was focused on it, but it was in the back of my mind. However, it’s hard to get outside rides.

I look for them as much as I can, but you need a way in, and I wouldn’t ring people for rides unless I had a reason to. I remember Dad struggling to get people to ride for him – now I think it’s the other way round. even the top riders in the Northern and Yorkshire Areas don’t seem to get offered rides outside these areas.

You're a true family operation - with your Dad training and your Mum being secretary of your local P2P. How do you divide the responsibilities?

Dad’s the trainer and I help where I can – I go to him with a plan, and he decides what to do. Mum and Dad are great for putting up with me – Dad’s a busy man and horses are his release valve. He gives me advice, but only when I ask – that’s why we get on.

Your Dad also rode but you're too young to remember. Does he have any tales from his time in the saddle?

He’s got lots of stories, but I try not to listen. Mum was pregnant with me when he was third in the Aintree Foxhunters in 2003 on I’m The Man, owned by both my sets of grandparents.

Ali Oliver was runner-up as Stable Employee of the year last season. How important is she to the operation?

If it wasn’t for Ali, I don’t think we’d manage. She’s practically my ‘horse mum’ and we can’t regard her highly enough – she’s the greatest sounding board and really good at dealing with me and Dad. She’s definitely in charge!

Which has been your favourite horse?

Talent-wise, Global Racing would be the one I’d like to have again. It would be Supremely Lucky for consistency, although he’s not my favourite horse at home! He’s Ali’s – she rides him every day. At Hutton Rudby, I knew he had the heart, but wasn’t sure if his legs would carry him home, so for him to win again was great – you couldn’t write that script.

What has been your career highlight?

My double at Overton (in April 2023). It was the first time I rode Blouebrav, and I proved Dad wrong – he thought the horse needed a male jockey.

Which horse (not one of your own mounts) would you most like to ride?

Any that are winning! I’d give my left arm to get a ride on anything, let alone a nice one.

Which other jockeys do you admire?

Rachael Blackmore, obviously – she’s phenomenal. Also, Harry Skelton and Sean Bowen – if I could be half as good as them, I’d be delighted.

In pointing, I look up to John Dawson – he’s so good with young horses. And Gina Andrews, of course – I’ve ridden against her a couple of times.

What's your favourite course?

Tranwell’s our local track but, funnily enough, I’ve never ridden round there. Overton’s been a lucky place for me, and I like quirky courses like Hutton Rudby and Friars Haugh. Not only are they fun to ride, they’re great for older horses.

What do you enjoy most about pointing?

It’s such a great environment. You get to see your friends every week, while being competitive at the same time.

What are your ambitions in pointing and racing?

I’d like to ride for as long as possible and be lucky enough to make it a career, because I love it so much. I would turn professional if the opportunity arose, but I’d be equally happy staying amateur

What would you do if you were in charge of the sport?

The first thing I’d do is create a better system for young jockeys. You can’t claim outside Opens, or after you’ve ridden five winners. What’s the incentive to use Tash Cookson over someone who’s ridden 100 winners? It would be good to have a similar system to the professional game, with a tiered structure of claims. That would give jockeys starting out more of a hand.

What are your non-horsey hobbies?

Everything I do outside horses is sport – I enjoy running and going to the gym, and played hockey at school, but I can’t do that as well as racing, as the matches are at the weekend. I can’t rely on sport for the rest of my life, so I’m doing a PT course. I’d like to become a personal trainer and do that alongside riding.

I also do a bit of forestry – I did a course with Polly’s Petals last summer and really enjoyed it. I love being outside – it’s relaxing… and horses and racing are so intense.

Finally, as well as winning at Hutton Rudby, you led up Cheltenham Festival Bumper winner Bambino Fever last week. How did that come about?

One of my friends – Georgia Fenwicke-Clennell – went to work for Willie Mullins and I went over to see her and did a week’s work there, which was a great experience. They were looking for people to help last week, I said yes, and they gave me Bambino Fever – the guy who normally looks after her was bust with Energumene – who I led up and led in afterwards.

I’d never been to Cheltenham before, and the atmosphere was amazing. I called my parents afterwards and said, ‘I won’t stop riding until I’ve ridden a winner there!’