Jockey hailed by racing fans after galvanising horse for amazing win

Sean Quinlan was trending on Twitter after winning on For Jim at Hexham. The grey chaser was going nowhere from the sixth fence, but the jockey refused to give up

Jockey Sean Quinlan was hailed by racing fans for pulling off the ‘ride of the year’ at Hexham.

The sportsman’s effort on For Jim (16-5) saw his name trending on Twitter as stunned punters were in awe of the determined performance.

The grey galloper was a long way behind the leaders as early as the sixth fence of the Happy 60th Birthday Dave Burley Handicap Chase.

At the end of the home straight, the visored runner was not in the TV picture – and going around the bend, Quinlan was seen giving his mount maximum encouragement.

Refusing to give up in the three-mile contest – one of the longer events in National Hunt racing – the rider started to get some reward for his efforts on the final circuit.

At fence 14 of the 19 to jump, For Jim made headway, but he still had plenty of ground to make up on the runners in front of him.

He had only passed one rival by the second last obstacle, however the Jennie Candlish-trained gelding went into overdrive on the home turn as the leaders began to tire.

Remarkably he was in front heading to the final fence and as the winning post loomed, he just did enough to prevail by half-a-length from Classical Milano.

For Jim went out to huge odds during the race on the Betfair exchange.

A tweet from @BetfairRacing read: “Unbelievable from@SquinlanSean and For Jim. Ride of the year? For Jim was matched at 80 on @BetfairExchange while the runner-up hit 1.39 in-running.”

Racing fans took to social media to praise both horse and jockey.

One said: “Let’s just give Sean Quinlan ride of the season now, shall we? What a ride on For Jim! Incredible. You’re not going to see better than that…”

A second tweeted: “@SquinlanSean has just probably won jockey performance of the season on For Jim at Hexham! Looked like being pulled up before halfway but brilliant cajoling and gets up to win!! Brilliant stuff.”

A third added: “What an absolutely brilliant ride there by Sean Quinlan on For Jim at Hexham.”

Quinlan’s heroics come hot on the heels of Sam Twiston Davies’ never-say-die ride on Wigglesworth at Worcester.

The chaser hit 999-1 in-running odds when competing earlier this week – but charged up the run-in to nab victory in the dying strides.

Newmarket’s feature on Saturday, the Together For Racing International Cesarewitch, went to the Nicky Henderson-trained Buzz.

The 8-1 shot was ridden by Oisin Murphy, who failed a breath test at the same track 24 hours earlier.