Gavin Sheehan: Crazy times as we wait for weather to improve
By Gavin Sheehan
Last Updated: Fri 24 Jan 2025
The David Power Jockeys' Cup moves - somewhat unexpectedly - to West Wales on Saturday with Ffos Las playing host to four races in which points are up for grabs. Great British Racing caught up with Gavin Sheehan to find out how he's been battling the freezing temperatures...
The cold snap over the past week has affected everyone and racing has found itself in some tricky situations over the last-minute abandonments at different meetings. I was victim to one of these when I made my way up to Musselburgh last Friday for the fixture to be called off just minutes before the first.
I had flown in that morning and I when I arrived at the track I could have told you there was no way racing was going ahead. So I had to wait for my return flight and head back down south which was not ideal. Still, I’m one to look on the bright side of these things and over the past week I’ve got to spend a lot of time with my family that I wouldn’t usually be able to, and the one bit of racing we’ve had at Taunton [Wednesday] was fruitful for me with a win and a second from my two rides.
As well as spending time at home with the family I’ve been keeping my competitive juices flowing by taking on Daryl Jacob and David Crosse at crazy golf and laser tag. Daryl has obviously been playing a lot of crazy golf since his retirement a couple of weeks ago as he won our competition!
I’m a big fan of golf so while it was a shame the weather meant I couldn’t get a round in this week, I was able to go to the Toptracer driving range in Swindon and then enjoy a game of padel. I now get the hype around padel, and I’ll be using it to keep up my fitness as it sure gives you a workout - I can still feel it now...
I think everyone’s keen for us to get some racing in as soon as possible so we can resume the David Power Jockeys' Cup as we’re all missing out on potential points, and you never know how tight things may get towards the end when we finish up at Aintree.
Sheehan has 80 points in the inaugural David Power Jockeys' Cup, leaving him joint-sixth in the current standings
My strategy is just get as many rides as possible in the ITV Racing window and nick points wherever I can. Ultimately, I think it’s Harry Skelton’s for the taking - he has such a strong hand with the ammunition they have in Dan’s [Skelton] yard this season and he is obviously gunning for the Champion Trainer title. As I said before, I’d be delighted to be in the top ten when we near the end of the competition, but who knows what could happen. It is racing, after all.
It was disappointing to lose Kempton's scheduled meeting for Saturday as I was really looking forward to the ride on Navajo Indy. He's an improving horse and I think he's one to follow.
Thankfully I've picked up a couple of rides on Up For Parol and Getaway With You in Jockeys' Cup races at Ffos Las - here's hoping the meeting beats the morning inspection and we get some jumps racing in.
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