Paul Hanagan - Flat Jockey - when available

Paul was our number-one rider and a vital cog in the Musley Bank wheel for seventeen years before taking on the role as first jockey to Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum in March 2012. It was an opportunity Paul could not refuse and everyone here at Musley Bank fully supported his decision, no one more so than Richard.

Paul joined Richard in 1998. Naturally talented, he was crowned champion apprentice in 2002. In 2011 Paul secured the British Champion Flat Jockey title for the second consecutive year. It was a massive achievement and one which re-wrote the record books; no northern jockey had ever won back-to-back jockeys’ championships.

Whenever Paul’s up north he’s in riding out and if he’s available he rides for us. He may not be here as often as he used to be, but he’ll always be part of the Musley Bank team and the fact that he rode 31 winners for the stable in 2012, a tally which included Mayson in the Darley July Cup - a first Group 1 triumph in Britain for both Richard and Paul - speaks volumes for his continuing involvement and valuable riding input. Click HERE for more on Paul.

Tony Hamilton (Flat Jockey)

Tony joined Richard as an apprentice during the second half of 2002. A highly regarded jockey by no-one more so than our trainer, Tony’s reliability and input in the mornings is as significant as his riding in the afternoons.

Tony is as strong in the saddle as any jockey out there and has deservedly been propelled deeper into the spotlight since Paul moved south. He is very much a team player and is 100% involved with the horses and their training.

He was enjoying a cracking season in 2010 before suffering a horrific fall at Ayr in August which left him with his pelvis fractured in four places. Thankfully a complete recovery was made and Tony ended 2011 with 39 winners.

In terms of prize money won Tony enjoyed his best season by far in 2012 with several notable successes, including Brae Hill (William Hill Lincoln), Mickdaam (Gp 3 Chester Vase) and Listed race victories aboard Barefoot Lady and Garswood to name but two.

Numerically he enjoyed his second best-ever season with 59 winners last year. He’s a huge asset to the team, which is highlighted by the statistics; he has ridden more than 125 winners for Richard in the last five years.

Q&A with Tony >> read more

Frederik Tylicki (Flat Jockey)

Freddy came to us from Ireland having spent time with Dermot Weld and Jim Bolger. In 2009 he was crowned Champion Apprentice but had his 2010 campaign cut short due to a serious shoulder injury in June that year. The talented German-born rider came back from injury better than ever notching up 67 winners in 2011.

Last year Freddy partnered 17 winners from 94 rides, producing a remarkable strike-rate of 12% for Musley Bank alone including two valuable handicaps aboard Chapter Seven and a Listed event at Chester on Majestic Myles (pictured right with Freddy).

Among his memorable days in 2012 Freddy rode a five-timer at Newcastle for five different trainers, a feat which secured him the Flat Jockey award at the ‘Magic Moments’ awards dinner, in aid of the Injured Jockeys’ Fund.

Freddy interview 2012 >> more 

Barry McHugh (Flat Jockey)

Barry joined us in May 2005 and was crowned Champion Amateur in 2006. Since turning professional he has continued to realize his potential and 2010 saw him have a cracking year with 60 winners.

Barry was flying in 2011 when an incident at Ripon in May left him on the sidelines for six weeks with a fractured bone in his foot. Still, he finished the year with 50 winners from 421 rides.

2012 proved another solid year for Barry, with 42 winners from a total of 483 rides. Listed race success aboard Lady's First at Haydock and a short head victory in the Thirsk Summer Cup on Lord Aeryn were two winners of note.

Barry has been in most days during the 2012/13 winter riding the yearlings away and is one of the most hard working and good natured jockeys around. He is also one of the lightest riding for us, weighing in at 8st 4lbs.

Patrick Mathers (Flat Jockey)

Paddy rode out for Musley Bank Stables on and off during 2011 before joining the team on a permanent basis at the end of the 2011 season. He’s a huge asset in the mornings, as brave as a lion and would be our lightest rider, weighing in at 7-13! Paddy enjoyed his best season since 2007 last year with Flashman (pictured right with Paddy) a runaway winner of a Class 4 handicap at Haydock and Ingleby Royale’s winning debut at Beverley when picking up a £10,000 yearling bonus two victories of note.

David Nolan (Flat Jockey)

A naturally talented rider, Dave rode out for us virtually every day throughout the 2010/11 winter dividing his time with other yards once the 2011 flat season started. After spending the 2011/12 winter riding in New Zealand, Dave joined the team in May 2012 on a more permanent basis and is in every morning riding out. He's another who has been in every day riding out during the 2012/13 winter months. A very good jockey and another great asset to the team.

Q&A with Dave >> read more

Lee Topliss (Apprentice Jockey (3)

Lee is a promising, talented young rider and is excellent value for his 3lb claim. Since joining us in April 2009 his riding, confidence and attitude have improved beyond all recognition. Lee rode his 50th winner on July 16th 2011 reducing his claim from 5lbs to 3lbs and goes into 2013 just six winners short of losing his claim altogether.

Like all our jockeys, he's as valuable in the mornings riding-out and riding work as he is in the afternoons on the track. Lee was away for the winter this year - he enjoyed a four month stint in Qatar where in addition to riding track work in the mornings he rode in 60-plus races. A great experience.

George Chaloner (Apprentice Jockey (5)

George came to us from Malcolm Jefferson’s in March 2010. Successful with four winners from twelve rides in 2010, George rode in 103 races in 2011 partnering seven winners with a further 29 horses placed.

2012 did not start well for our young apprentice. On the sidelines for the best part of three and a half months with a fractured knee, it was April before he was back on the racecourse, missing the start of the year. Hard work and determination paid off however and George enjoyed a cracking year which included his biggest success to date when partnering Johannes to victory in the £30,000 Stewards' Sprint Handicap on the final day of Glorious Goodwood.

A graduate from the Northern Racing College in Doncaster George was also chosen to represent the school and England in apprentice races in Chantilly and Abu Dhabi last year.

In contrast to last year George could not have started the 2013 season any better. He is currently flying and victory aboard Spirit Of The Law at Yarmouth on April 23rd gave him his 20th career success reducing his claim to 5lbs. The season ahead is looking very promising and a crack at the apprentice championship could be on the cards.

For more on George: Behind The Scenes

Video of coaching session with Kevin Darley - Dec 2012: HERE

Laura Barry (Apprentice Jockey (7)

Laura joined us in 2010 having ridden not short of a hundred winners Pony Racing in her native Ireland. Pony racing has been popular across the Irish Sea for a number of years and is a great starting point for potential young jockeys giving them valuable experience in their chosen field. With one winner from 10 rides in 2010 Laura increased her number of career winners to five by the end of 2011.

10 winners from 72 rides producing a strike-rate of 14% during the 2012 turf season was enough to secure her with the Silver Award in the first ever Lady Jockeys’ Championship sponsored by business IT solutions provider Prolinx Ltd. She was awarded with her trophy and a cheque for £3,000 at Doncaster on the final day of the flat season.

Laura struck up quite a rapport with Sunny Side Up last season successful in three of her five races aboard the filly while Mary’s Daughter’s victory at York’s Ebor Festival meeting was her nominated highlight.

Laura featured in the Racing Post's Scouting Report in September 2012 >> read more

Eireann Cagney (Apprentice Jockey (7)

Eireann joned the yard in May 2011 and received his apprentice license last year.

From seven rides in 2012 he gained a second and a third and showed definite promise for the future. Previously attached to National Hunt trainer Philip Hobbs, Eireann rides a lot of the young horses at home and is another huge asset to the team.

Samantha Bell (Apprentice Jockey (7)

Samantha is joined Musley Bank in January 2013 and is an exciting 7lb claimer to have going into the 2013 season.

Attached to Kevin Prendergast’s yard in Co. Kildare for three and a half years, Sammy, who hails from Antrim in Northern Ireland, notched up 10 winners from 89 rides and is keen to build on that this coming season. Quick to settle in, the 22-year-old is a good little rider with a pleasant manner and positive attitude.

Meet Samantha >> more

Samantha featured in the Racing Post's Scouting Report in May 2013 >> read more

Josh Quinn (Apprentice Jockey (7)

Son of jockey Jimmy Quinn, Josh joined the team on a full time basis in January this year. Familiar with the day-to-day running of Musley Bank having spent a number of weeks here gaining experience during his school holidays, his apprentice license just came through in April. Based with Jane Chapple-Hyam for a short time Josh made the most of his time there and headed North with five rides on the all-weather already under his belt. He’s keen to get on and looking forward to the year ahead.

Jamie Hamilton (Amateur Rider)

more to follow >>

Brian Hughes (Jump Jockey)

Brian graduated from RACE (Irelands Racing Academy & Centre of Excellence) in 2002. He spent the following three years with Kevin Prendergast during which time he rode 19 winners on the flat. Rising weight forced him to turn to jumping and in 2008 he was Champion Conditional in England. A calm, confident and focused horseman Brian rides our jumpers whenever possible and comes over to school as and when required.

Brian featured in the Racing Post on Sunday in December 2012 >> read more