Hong Kong star Ho relishing Goodwood opportunity

Vincent Ho, whose international profile has exploded through his partnership with Golden Sixty, is soon to return to ride in the UK, with rides at Goodwood high on his target list.

The 32-year-old last rode in Britain in August 2019 when a short stay yielded six winners from 22 rides, including success at the Shergar Cup to help the Rest of the World team secure victory.

A year earlier, Ho made his British debut a memorable one by winning on his first ride in the country on the Mark Johnston-trained X Rated at Haydock.

Since his last visit to Britain, Ho has firmly established himself as being among the elite jockeys and his association with Golden Sixty has yielded a host of successes at the highest level, but he is just as excited by the prospect of riding around Pontefract and Nottingham as by the glittering lights of Sha Tin.

He explained: "I’m very excited, I wish our summer was longer so that I could spend more time there, but two weeks is the most I could do.

"The history in general of horse racing is all about the UK... the best horses, best jockeys, best races... so many different tracks it makes me improve a lot not only as a jockey but also as a horseman.

"The last time was different. Living there was different. When I worked for Mr Johnston in Middleham it was quiet, a lot of the time you are among nature which is completely different to Hong Kong, so my mind can relax a bit which is great. Mr Johnston gave me a lot of opportunities and the chance to ride at a lot of different tracks which helps me improve when I come back to Hong Kong.

"I’d say I’m a more confident rider now than I was in 2019 and of course riding good horses makes you more confident. You can judge the race better and trust yourself better and it makes you a better rider this way.

"Racing in the UK is completely different so I am carrying the mindset that I am coming to learn and anything else is a great opportunity.

"The UK has a lot of different tracks that I haven’t been to and I would love to learn to ride on them. Sometimes they have a longer shape and you have more opportunity to think whereas in Hong Kong, you are riding on instinct, reaction a lot more – if you didn’t take that gap, you lose that race. The UK also has some short, straight tracks that you can’t make a mistake on, but generally you can take more time and be a bit more patient."

Once again, Ho will team up with the Johnstons in Middleham and spend some time riding work there between the end of the Qatar Goodwood Festival and the Shergar Cup at Ascot.

"For Mr Johnston, I’m maybe just an extra rider, but for me it is a huge opportunity to ride for him because after going to ride for him that few summers ago, I came back and had improved a lot," said Ho.