THE FESTIVAL™ PREVIEW MAGAZINE 2022

F EATURE BARRY GERAGHTY

Few sports on the planet give amateurs the chance to line up against pros with a genuine chance of victory on the biggest of stages. But amateur jockey David Maxwell is hoping to ride a winner at this year’s Festival as Graham Clark discovers Cheltenham Challenge

N o county league footballers get the chance play in an FACup final. No club cricketers are donning England shirts to compete for the Ashes.And no park rugbyplayers are given the chance to represent their country in the SixNations. So, forDavidMaxwell, and every amateur like him, riding at the CheltenhamFestival is a buzz like no other. Riding awinner at Jump racing’s ‘Olympics’ is an ambitionwhich has so far proved elusive forMaxwell, but the enthusiastic amateur rider has high hopes that 2022 can be the year he secures the success he has craved for so long.With two victories at Cheltenham already to his name, Maxwell is no stranger to the winner’s enclosure. But despite years of trying, he is yet to find the right formula to taste glory Festival week. That could all change this year, however, as Maxwell looks to have a number of good chances: “Riding a winner anywhere is mega exciting and to be treasured, but awinner at Cheltenhamwould be something else. I’ve been trying to crack the puzzle of how towin the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase for a good fewyears nowand it has proven really hard to do. I’mnot surewhat I would do if I won a race at The Festival™. I don’t know if I would faint, cry or be jubilant. I have no idea. I suspectwhat I will think is, ‘Thatwas fun, let’s do it again!’” Securing such a landmark triumphwould undoubtedlybe a career highlight forMaxwell,who combines ridingwithworking in the London business sector, but just being able to participate atThe Festival against horseracing’s elite is a buzz in itself. He explains: “One of the amazing things with racing is that it has created this piece of theatre that an amateur can play in and have a go at. That is just unique in this world. If youwant to see the state of racing, go toThe Festival where there is this passion and this wonderful

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THE F E S T I VAL TM PREV I EW MAGAZ I NE

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