Jockey Angle: Why does rising jockey Daniel King stand out?

“Everyone seems to be talking about him, and for good reason, because he’s a smashing rider" - former jockey Paddy Flood takes a closer look at Daniel King’s approach to riding and examines what sets him apart from other jockeys.

On the latest episode of the Jockey Angle, Flood looks at King’s winning ride aboard Louiescall in Tramore.

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Paddy Flood’s Analysis

Just watch his body language going to the first jump. This horse is actually running a touch keen.

What I really like is there's absolutely no interference with the horse's mouth.

What I love about Dan King here is he's got such a strong leg that he doesn't either force the horse to a jump or take him back out of his stride too much.

Basically, this horse is being sent a that signal that this is very easy.

What Dan King does is he gets horses into a rhythm.

But to get a horse into a rhythm, there's a lot that goes into it. You have to go down to a jump and that horse has to think, "This is the easiest thing I've ever done."

What I do like about Dan is he saves his big jumps for late. He literally wants his horses just popping.

When I say just popping here, watch his lower leg. How strong it is. How settled his hands are. He's not squeezing with his arms. He's not flapping around. He's squeezing that horse in with his leg.

Again, this horse is running a touch keen, but Dan is able to ride him in such a way that he's letting him think that he's got everything under control.

Whereas in reality, if he goes another stride quicker, he's probably going to have to start really yanking the horse.

But he goes down to that hurdle, doesn't break stride, doesn't take him back, basically just stands in his irons and bends his knee. He's a beautiful, beautiful rider.

Watch the full analysis of Dan King’s ride