HIS year started with rehabilitation from a broken back, but Chippenham youngster James Harding will end it as a champion after jointly lifting the 2013 Amateur Gentlemen Jockeys Flat title.

The 21-year-old’s triumph, along with three others, was confirmed at the conclusion of the championship at Nottingham last Wednesday, Harding guiding Cuckoo Rock into fifth place for Upper Lambourn trainer Jonathan Portman, with whom he is based.

His three winners left the former Hardenhuish School pupil level with much-decorated Hampshire rider Simon Walker, winner of all but one of the titles in the eight previous years, Yorkshire’s Jamie Hamilton and fellow Wiltshire jockey Ollie Sangster, from Marlborough, whose victory at Nottingham aboard Ebony Express allowed him to join the other three.

It marks considerable progress for Harding, who only started race riding last year and lost four months to the back injury, but he admitted his success came with a strange feeling after the final race.

“I didn’t feel like I’d won it,’’ he told the Gazette & Herald.

 “It was one of those things, the horse was a little bit unlucky on the day but I was getting off thinking I was disappointed about that while people were coming up to me to congratulate me on the championship.’’

The championship runs from mid-March and Harding, who won on Portman’s Balmoral Castle at Goodwood in May and Newbury in June, also guided Cuckoo Rock to success at Goodwood on October 13, a moment he savoured.

“The win at Goodwood was probably the best day of my life so far,’’ he added.

“Cuckoo Rock is owned by Chris Green, who is a professor in geophysics and oil exploration and it’s great that he and Jonny (Portman) have let me ride the horse.’’

Harding, who has had four winners in total and was also second at Stratford on Isloa Bella on October 31, linked up with Portman in late 2011.

Seeking a career in sport after leaving Hardenhuish, he acted on a long-held interest in racing, eventually completing a nine-week foundation course for an NVQ at Newmarket’ Racing School.

He then worked for two and a half years for Gloucestershire trainer Richard Phillips before seeking race riding opportunity.

“My great uncle, who is 92, had shares in horses with Jonny, so I rang him up and he got me to come along and ride. Then he got me started up as an amateur and we went from there,’’ added Harding, who has four winners to his name in total.

“I didn’t have my first ride until last year and then in my fourth race, I broke my back and had four months out at the end of August last year. I didn’t get back until February.’’ His determination to return ultimately led to title success, not that Harding’s ambitions have in any way been satisfied.

“Everyone says about my attitude and I still feel that I’ve got a whole lot more to come,’’ he said. “I need to kick on and keep improving because you have to. I know what it’s going to take.’

“I’ve had four winners in total, and three places on the Flat and one second over hurdles. I love both (Flat and hurdles) equally and if I can do both when I turn professional, I will if I can make the weight for the Flat.’

“There is an amateur series that takes place all over the world and you need five winners to qualify. I’d like to take that experience in, but I’m level-headed and realistic. I want to get as many experiences as I can and I’ll ride whenever the boss tells me.’’

Harding’s progress is watched all the way by his family. Twin brother Matthew, currently in New Zealand, has also gone into racing on the breeding side, while parents Clive and Glenda, who live in Monkton Park, and grandfather Malcolm lend their backing.

“Without them, I wouldn’t be anywhere,’’ added Harding, who also plays village cricket for Lacock in the summer.

“They’ve supported me and every time I’m in a race I have to find about 10 badges for various members of the family to get in.

“I thought no-one was coming (to Nottingham) last Wednesday but after the race, my dad was there. Nottingham was one of the courses he hadn’t been to and he wanted to be there.”

Harding will receive his title at the Amateur Jockeys Association Championship Ball at Cheltenham Racecourse on December 14 and will pick up a second prize after topping the JRL Group-sponsored Gentlemens Amateur Riders Series, in which he edged out Walker by a point.

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