Up-and-coming conditional jockey Toby McCain-Mitchell will always have great memories of the October meeting at Cheltenham.

Twelve months ago he steered The Newest One, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, to victory at the home of National Hunt racing.

It was his first winner at the course and the 24-year-old is hoping there will be plenty more to come, starting with this year’s two-day Showcase curtain-raiser on Friday 24^th October.

That win in the Glenfarclas Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase was obviously a big moment in McCain-Mitchell’s career.

“It was a dream come true,” he said. “I’d never felt anything like it, I’d never experienced an atmosphere like that.”

A month later he was centre stage again, this time at Ascot, when Beauport, also trained by Twiston-Davies, led home a 10-strong field in the Berkshire National Handicap Chase.

They were two of 10 winners for McCain-Mitchell last season – he’s ridden 22 in total – and that success at Ascot was particularly impressive.

“Beauport is a top horse,” said McCain-Mitchell. “That was a big turning point for me, I realised I needed to be more dedicated, focus on my weight more. I knew I had to knuckle down.”

And he’s certainly done that. He’s started the current campaign well, so much so that he turned professional in August.

“It was a big step but it was a no-brainer, it was a now or never moment,” McCain-Mitchell said.

“A lot of jockeys go professional at 18. I’d been on my best run of form and the aim is to get more rides.”

McCain-Mitchell, the grandson of four-times Grand National-winning trainer Ginger McCain and the nephew of Donald McCain, who is also a Grand National winner, has been with Twiston-Davies in the heart of the Cotswolds for the past two-and-a-half years.

Given his background, it’s no surprise that he’s been around horses pretty much all his life.

He did a bit of showjumping when he first left school before riding out for his uncle, who is based at Cholmondeley Castle Estate in Cheshire.

McCain is one of the leading trainers in the country and his nephew said: “I instantly got the buzz, I was there for about four seasons.

“But I only had a few rides, about 10, I was quite low down the pecking order.”

McCain-Mitchell then spent a year with Phil and Mel Rowley in Shropshire where he learned a lot.

“I was riding point-to-pointers, it was a great grounding, a great experience,” he said.

But he was never going to turn down the chance to link up with Twiston-Davies.

“Historically, he gives amateur and conditional jockeys a chance,” McCain-Mitchell said. “I’ve never looked back since.”

And he admits that he’s got more than half an eye on this season’s conditional jockeys’ title.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t,” he said. “I’m aiming for 15 winners, you always want to improve on the previous season.”

McCain-Mitchell, who has ridden at the Cheltenham Festival and around Aintree, has enjoyed five winners so far this season and will have plenty of chances to add to that number over the coming weeks and months.

Two-times Grand National-winning jockey Carl Llewellyn is his jockey coach and he said: “Nigel always sends out lots of horses, I’m very fortunate to have been given the opportunity.”