Teenage veteran: Jockey Faye McManaman on sprinter Athollblair Boy after his latest win at Newcastle

For the Nigel Tinkler inmate, who turned 13 on New Year’s Day, was getting his head in front for the 15th time in his long career in the six-furlong Midnite Ain't Your Grandad's Bookie Handicap, under regular jockey Faye McManoman.

And the chestnut teenager, who has built up a loyal following during his career, shows no signs of slowing down at an age when most Flat horses are long since retired.

Not every horse can be a Frankel or Sea the Stars, but horses like Athollblair Boy are the backbone of the sport up and down the country, providing pleasure for racing staff and punters alike.

McManoman, who has ridden Athollblair, as he is known at home, 51 times in her career and has won on him six times, including her first race as a professional after shedding her claim.

She told The Yorkshire Post: "I could talk about him for hours! He’s got a really good strike rate and to even get to 13 he’s done well, but to continue winning at that age he has done very well.

“He’s the most straightforward horse you can imagine. I’d be happy to ride him blindfolded.

“He’s such a good ride and so professional he wouldn’t need a jockey on him. He’d take himself down to the start, put himself in the starting stalls and gallop home in front!

“He’s an absolutely fantastic character and so wise to it.”

As well as his 15 wins, Athollblair has also placed 32 times and won £118,000 in prize money for connections during the course of his career.

McManoman, who followed up her victory at Gosforth Park with a win on Michael Mullineaux’s Bear Rock at Wolverhampton on Monday evening, said it was “emotional” to get home in front on Tinkler’s 11-2 shot.

"I was confident we had it as he is so genuine and tries so hard but I was quite surprised how close it was. I though it had won a bit more comfortable than that.

“When you are on it you can tell if you are in front so I was quite emotional – I always get like that when I win on him.

“He’s been in my career so long and I’ve ridden him throughout it, so when he wins again at 13 it really pulls on the heartstrings.”

As for the future, the trainer’s wife Kim has told the Go Racing in Yorkshire website that it would probably be the horse’s final winter in training.

She rides the Langton yard’s legend every day and said: “We’ve tried to retire him more than once, but he just doesn’t want to. We will have to retire him at some point and this will likely be his last winter.

“He tended to be a good to fast ground horse, but these days, he loves the stability of the all weather and loves Newcastle.”

Tinkler added that the horse will have a new job once he retires from the track, saying: “I’ve got him booked in to the National Horseracing College when he does decide to retire. He needs a job and I think he’ll fit in well there. In days gone by, he would have been an ideal trainer’s hack, but everyone uses cars these days.”

One horse looking to regain his confidence on the Flat after a disastrous series of races over obstacles is Nicky Henderson’s superstar Grade One winner Constitution Hill.

It emerged yesterday that a new £40,000 novice event over a mile and a half had been added to the all-weather card at Southwell on February 20, which is part of the new Friday Night Live series.

The former Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner has been in limbo since falling for the third time in four outings on his return to action in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November.

Henderson said: “It’s fantastic they’ve put the race on because we have been looking everywhere for a race for him.

“There weren’t any races over far enough but this, over a mile and a half, is perfect so we’ll be there.”