Retiring amateur rider David Maxwell has agreed to let one of his 17 horses that are heading to the sales have one more start before he is due to go under the hammer
Punters have been given a jumper to follow when the core season begins in earnest and have been told to ‘lump on’ when he makes his reappearance next week.
The horse in question is owned by millionaire businessman and amateur rider David Maxwell, who combined his career as a property developer with regular appearances on the racecourse riding his own horses in Britain and France. He rode 75 winners under rules and pulled off a rare feat for a ‘hobby amateur’ when completing the Grand National course on Ain’t That A Shame.
However, it was another visit to Aintree this year that has put paid to his riding exploits when he took a fall during the Foxhunters Chase on the Grand National course in April.
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Although he rode again, it was subsequently discovered he had suffered a broken back and last month announced he was retiring on medical advice and sending his horses to the sales.
Among 17 lots to go under the hammer at the Tattersalls Cheltenham David Maxwell Dispersal Sale, taking place after racing on Friday, October 24, at Cheltenham Racecourse is his Grand National mount Ain’t That A Shame.
Another star lot is expected to be El Cairos, who won on racecourse debut, finished fifth in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival and second in a bumper race at the Punchestown Festival.
Maxwell said: “He’s a really lovely horse. Mentally he’s a real professional, when you go and ride him and Gary’s [Moore], he’ll lob around the sand ring like an old beach pony, but the moment you ask him to do something he gets his racing brain on and he’s a racehorse – a real professional.
“You asked me a race that I would like to ride again because I probably made a balls of it, him at Punchestown where he was second and should have won. If I was a better jockey, he would have won.”
Maxwell, speaking to Tattersalls, admitted it won’t be easy stepping away from race riding.
“I can’t just stand on the sidelines and watch other jockeys ride my horses,” he said. “This is cold turkey for me, I physically don’t know what I’d do at a racecourse without heading straight to the changing room, drop my bag off and go walk the course.”
Yet he will allow another jockey to partner three-time winner Queensbury Boy who he has agreed to let run at Chepstow on Friday, October 10 before the sale.
“Harry Derham really likes him,” Maxwell said. “In fact, when I told Harry I was retiring he said, ‘but David, I’ve laid him out for the Persian War [Novices’ Hurdle] at Chepstow, please let me go and win this race’. After quite a bit of arm twisting and promising me, he’s going to win, he’ll run in the Persian War.
“For those watching before [The Persian War Novices’ Hurdle], lump on. For those watching afterwards, I hope I gave you good advice.”