An Interview with Jamie Insole

The Black Type of Racing Pedigree: Jamie Insole, Assistant trainer to Charlie Hills.

Not many people have the racing pedigree with as much black type in it as Jamie Insole! Jamie’s family includes successful jockeys and trainers; so it’s only natural that he is paving his own way through the racing world.

Jamie, 26, has worked over both codes; having started off in National Hunt as a jockey, he has latterly risen up through the ranks in hopes of becoming a trainer in the future.

He looked after Smad Place at Alan King’s; a superb chaser who won the 2015 Hennessy Gold Cup, the 2016 Cotswold Chase and the 2017 Old Roan Chase. Since concentrating on the Flat, Jamie has been associated with top-class flat-performer Equilateral who took him to Dubai. He is currently working as an assistant trainer in a Flat yard.

Originally from Billericay in Essex, Jamie now resides in Lambourn, Berkshire.

Did you have a horsey childhood?
‘I grew up in Essex, away from our family racing yard in Ireland, so I wasn’t around horses every day.

When we visited our family in Ireland though I would sit on a pony from an early age and I would be out on the gallops with my grandfather watching the horses. It wasn’t until I was around 6 years old that I started having riding lessons and a few years later I would spend my summer holidays in Ireland at pony camp.’

How did you get into racing?
‘When I was about fifteen, I went to Alex Hales Racing for a few weeks during the summer holidays. This is where I learned the basics in caring for racehorses and also got my first taste of exercising horses up the gallops. I returned to Alex’s a couple more times. I then spent six weeks during my summer holidays at Paul Webber’s when I was 16 and 17. I learnt so much there, from riding work to schooling and it gave me valuable experience. Over the years, I also used to spend time with my uncle William who would take me racing with him and into the yards to ride out. At the age of 16 I rode in the Greatwood Charity Race for Paul Webber at the Cheltenham November meeting. I then went on to ride in the Cancer Research Charity Race at the Cheltenham Festival for Gordon Elliot. My parents told me to stay in school to complete my A-Levels which I did. However, as soon as I passed my driving test, I would miss the first two periods of classes at least once a week to drive up to Newmarket to ride out for John Berry and Neil King before rushing back to Sixth Form.’

Which trainers have you worked for and in which roles?
‘My first full-time job in racing was for Nigel Twiston-Davies at the age of 18. I held my Amateur licence while I was there and had a few rides ‘pointing. I then moved to Alan King’s and stayed there for five seasons. I was mainly riding ‘pointing to start with. In my second season at Alan’s, I turned Conditional and, on my first ride, I broke my jaw and missed half the season. I spent another season as Conditional before turning back to an Amateur and taking up the role of Pupil Assistant Trainer to Alan for two seasons. I then moved to Charlie Hills in Lambourn in February 2018 as a Pupil Assistant and became an Assistant Trainer at the start of 2019.’

Why did you make the switch from National Hunt to Flat?!
‘I had spent the majority of my career in National Hunt racing and after spending five seasons with Alan King and thinking about my future of hopefully becoming a trainer, I thought it was best to get some valuable experience in a large, classic and winning Flat yard.’

What was the best advice you have ever been given?
‘To always remain grounded and to keep your head down and work hard.’

What is the best advice you can give?
‘As with any sport, it requires a lot of dedication and commitment and, if you show these traits, you’ll be sure to have a bright future.’

What have been your best days racing?
‘It’s a hard choice between Smad Place winning the Hennessy Gold Cup or Equilateral winning the Dubai Dash. When Smad Place won the Hennessy, it was just magical. We had recently lost a friend who worked in the yard and it brought everyone together. We certainly celebrated!

I was sent to Dubai for the winter to ride and train Equilateral and when he won the Dubai Dash, a first Dubai Carnival winner for Charlie, it was brilliant. I felt a great satisfaction seeing him run away with James Doyle nearly all the way to the finish line.’

What are your other hobbies?
‘During lockdown, I took up road cycling and I even built my own bike. I’ve managed a few 100km rides over the summer and next May I’m planning to cycle from London to Paris in 24 hours. I also play golf but like playing any sport really, including cricket during the summer.

I also have my own horse, McCabe Creek. He gave me my first winner as a Conditional for Alan King, and was part of a five-timer that day (Ziga Boy, Annacotty, Yanworth and Smad Place). I have evented and hunted him.’