'It's the biggest ride of my career' - Kevin Brogan booked for Buzz in Betfair

Conditional jockey Kevin Brogan cannot wait for the biggest ride of his career on Sunday, when he teams up with champion trainer Nicky Henderson for the first time to partner leading Betfair Hurdle contender Buzz.

Brogan will claim 5lb off the topweight, owned by Thurloe For Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, in the £125,000 handicap hurdle that features in ITV4’s Newbury coverage.

Henderson has landed the prize five times, most recently with My Tent Or Yours in 2013, and Nico de Boinville will ride stablemate Mister Coffey. Both runners are priced around 10-1 in a market headed by Cadzand at a general 5-1.

Betfair Hurdle entries

Buzz, a Flat recruit who won two of his three novice hurdle starts last season, has continued to improve this campaign, finishing third in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las before winning at Ascot and finishing second in the Betfair Exchange Trophy at the same track last time.

Brogan, 20, said: “I can’t wait – it’s the biggest ride of my career and hopefully he runs a big race. I went to Nicky’s to have a sit on him recently and you can definitely feel he’s different to a normal handicapper. If someone was to tell you he was rated in the 150s you would well believe it.

“He has one of the topweights in the race for a reason – because he’s one of the best horses in there. He will take all the beating but without doubt there will be some well-handicapped horses lower down the field and it will be very competitive. It will be an interesting race to watch – and definitely to ride in.

Buzz (far side): form figures of 312 in top handicap hurdles this seasonCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

“A good gallop will really suit him and that showed in his win at Ascot. Ascot is a tough track and he made it look easy, especially on soft ground.

“It would be unbelievable if he were to win. It’s what you dream of when you’re young and you start getting up early, mucking out and riding out – you’re working for these kind of days. If he ran well and into a place I’d be delighted, but to win a race like the Betfair Hurdle would be a dream come true.”

Brogan hails from Kill in County Kildare, a village best known in racing as home to the Walsh family, and made the switch to Britain this summer having worked for Gordon Elliott after graduating from RACE as trainee jockey of the year in 2017.

The chance to join Jonjo O’Neill’s yard at Jackdaws Castle was too good to turn down and Brogan has not looked back, operating at a 20 per cent strike-rate this season with 19 winners from 97, and also picking up rides for Paul Nicholls and Harry Fry.

Brogan, who enjoyed a double from two rides at Carlisle on Tuesday, said: “Buzz will be my first ride for Nicky and I’ve ridden for some great trainers this season. I couldn’t have asked for a better campaign since coming over to Britain. The ball started rolling for me quite early on and I have Dave [Roberts, agent] to thank for that.

“I was standing still, if not chasing my tail a little, when I was at Gordon’s, but that was through no fault of anyone else’s. I was getting a few rides here and there but the opportunity came to join Jonjo’s and I definitely took it with both hands.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way things have gone and Jonjo has been so supportive of me. I have to give big thanks to him, I wouldn’t be in this position without him.”

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