Fighting Fifth talk as Billy Garritty returns on Cornerstone Lad

This was Cornerstone Lad (left) winning at Haydock in December 2018 under Billy Garritty.

“Three out of three over hurdles. One out of two on the Flat. Four out of five in total. It’s good, very good,” he tells The Yorkshire Post breathlessly.

The 21-year-old rider from Malton will be even more satisfied if that strike-rate improves still further in today’s Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

Not only will the jockey’s first ride in an elite Grade One winning race have been a winning one but it will atone for Garritty’s disappointment when a lengthy whip ban meant that he was sidelined when Cornerstone Lad prevailed in last year’s Fighting Fifth.

Cornerstone Lad (near side) made all to win last year's Fighting Fifth hurlde under the now injury sidelined Henry Brooke.

But any despair was shortlived because he was so pleased for the horse’s owner, Mary Lofthouse, Middleham trainer Micky Hammond and jockey Henry Brooke, whose inspired front-running ride still haunts the now retired Barry Geraghty after he left Buveur D’Air, the dual Champion Hurdle winner, with too much ground to make-up.

It explains why 21-year-old Garritty, the youngest member of a famous Yorkshire racing family, believes he has “nothing to lose and everything to gain” from today’s test headlined by 2020 Champion Hurdle hero Epatante, who will be a high-pressure ride for Aidan Coleman as he replaces Geraghty.

That is because his rivals will be wary of any early front-running move – Garritty believes there will be more pace in this year’s race – and that drying conditions in the North East will not play to the strengths of Cornerstone Lad, whose best form has come on heavy ground.

The horse could also switch to fences after this race – that remains the plan. But Garritty, a conditional rider plying his trade under both codes of racing, is simply pleased to have a chance to shine on the big stage – his father Russ was a battle-hardened Grade One-winning jump jockey and the young rider’s brother, Jack, has Group One experience on the Flat.

Micky Hammond trains Cornerstone Lad at Middleham.

Billy was in the saddle when Cornerstone Lad was fourth on the Flat at Redcar in a comeback race – and was delighted when the horse prevailed at the same track in his next start.

“Micky (Hammond) told me after the Redcar win that I would ride Cornerstone Lad over hurdles and he’s been as good as his word,” said a grateful Garritty, who knows that many trainers would have booked a more experienced jockey.

“My first Grade One ride. That’s it. It means an awful lot. It’s good to get a good ride on a good horse in a good race. It feels good. I’m treating it as just another race – just another day at the office.”

But what helps Garritty, who went to Malton School, is that he has a long association with Cornerstone Lad dating back to December, 2018 when he prevailed on the horse at one of Haydock’s bigger meetings.

Despite his inexperience, he said that win convinced him that Cornerstone Lad was “a good horse” in the making.

“A good horse but, if I’m honest, I didn’t think he could win a Grade One,” said Garritty, who is full of sympathy for his friend Henry Brooke, who won last year’s Fighting Fifth and who is now recovering from serious back and neck injuries suffered in a gallops fall.

“The horse has a very good cruising speed, travels well and his jumping is good. He wants to win. Every time he has won, it has been on soft ground and he won’t have that this year. That’s right, he’s got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

“I was meant to ride him last year – and I was pleased when he won. It’s all about the horse and all about the owner, Mrs Lofthouse, and it is good for her to get a good one.

“Hopefully, he can go there again and give a good account of himself. Epatante gets a mares’ allowance and, as the reigning Champion Hurdle winner, she’s the best horse in the race.

“Look at the way she won the Champion Hurdle, it was a bit scary and she’s at the right yard – there’s no-one better with these top hurdlers as her trainer Nicky Henderson.

“But there will be pace and I think my horse is better when he gets a bit of cover. We’ll see. You’ve got to be in to win it – anything can happen as we saw last year – and there’s no reason why Cornerstone Lad shouldn’t take his chance. I can’t wait.”

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