A first in chemistry at Bristol University and two firsts in races at Fontwell and Worcester in the past two weeks is an unusual combination achieved by conditional jockey Thomasina Eyston.
A former pony-race rider who gained further experience riding in point-to-points, Eyston – aka ‘Tommy’ to her friends – has been on the crest of a wave in the past fortnight, riding two winners and a second for her boss, Bath trainer Neil Mulholland.
Eyston, 22, rode in point-to-points over a period of seven seasons, although as she progressed through her chemistry degree the appeal of riding under Rules set her on a course to become a professional jockey.
She says: “While I was at Bristol I rode out for Ben Lund and Joe Tizzard. I loved being at the Tizzards’ stable, and when I spoke to Joe about becoming a conditional he was very encouraging. However, his nephew, Freddie Gingell [who made his debut on the point-to-point circuit last season], was planning to turn conditional and so I reasoned I had to find somewhere else.
“I’m good friends with Millie Wonnacott [another former point-to-point rider] who works for Neil Mulholland, so I approached him and he offered me a job.”
Wonnacott enjoyed a very fruitful spell as a conditional jockey after joining Mulholland, but injuries have stalled her career and it is thought she will focus on the Flat once given medical clearance.
Eyston says: “Point-to-pointing was a good learning curve, and at first it didn’t cross my mind to go into National Hunt racing. Sam Holdsworth had helped us train our pony for pony racing and he taught me a lot when I moved onto point-to-pointing. Then I had a ride in a hunters’ chase at Newton Abbot and loved the day. I pulled up, but I really loved it.
“Point-to-pointing is great fun, but if you are going to do something you want to do it properly. I didn’t have many contacts in point-to-pointing and rides were getting a bit patchy. You have to be on the best horse because there are no handicaps – under Rules lesser horses have a chance.”
Eyston, whose family home is in South Devon, was encouraged to go to university by her parents, whose message was ‘get a degree and then do what you want’. Plans to do a four-year masters degree fell by the way as the racing bug took hold, but her parents played a role in that, too, for they passed on a love of horses and speed.
She says: “I got my love of horses from Mum, who hunts with the Dartmoor. Dad’s not horsey, but he did a lot of car racing.”