Jockey Joe goes the distance in search of a Redcar winner

JOCKEY Joe Leavy may have narrowly missed out to Sean Dylan Bowen in the race to be champion apprentice last season but he has continued the momentum as a rising star.

- By PETER BARRON

And the young rider makes the long journey north for one ride at Redcar today, teaming up with Gennadius in the Watch Race Replays At racingtv.com Handicap for his boss, Richard Hannon.

A talented footballer who was on the books of Stoke City in his youth, Leavy scored 42 times last season two behind Bowen - and is already on the 16-winner mark for the 2025 campaign and closing in on a 100-career wins.

His rapid rise up the ranks has come despite a terrible fall on the gallops nearly ending his career at 16, with a fractured skull, a bleed on the brain, and more than 70 staples in his head. The career highlight so far was victory on Dream Composer in the valuable Aston Martin ‘Dash’ Handicap at Epsom last year and he remains good value with his claim down to 3lbs.