Jockey Dalgleish launches jump career

Keith Dalgleish returned to Lingfield yesterday to launch a new career as a jump jockey at the same course where he had his first ride as a Flat apprentice.

The 21-year-old, who had to curtail his Flat career because of weight problems, looked as fit as a fiddle before going out to partner Hopeful Mission in the closing Hblb Coloroll “Junior” Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race at Surrey circuit.

Dalgleish said: “I am around 10st 2lb now and have no trouble getting down to 10st, eating three meals a day. I expect to partner my first runner over hurdles for Kate Walton at Doncaster on Sunday.

“All I know is about riding horses and it was always at the back of my mind to go the jumping way when my weight started to go up. It was getting to me mentally at the end, all that wasting, but now I can relax a bit in the eating department.”

Riding Hopeful Mission for Middleham trainer Karl Burke, it never really looked like being a winning debut for Dalgleish.

The 7-2 shot pulled hard and finished a distant sixth behind the Philip Hide-ridden Idris.