Young jockey Harry Atkins readily admits he is living the dream.

The one-time Cotswold School pupil is a conditional jockey with leading trainer Dan Skelton and the 20-year-old is relishing the opportunity.

Atkins has been with Skelton, who is based in Warwickshire, for the past year and he said: “He’s got just over 200 horses, he’s one of the top trainers in the country.

“It’s incredible, he’s got some unbelievable horses, just sitting on them makes you feel like a million dollars.”

Atkins, who is able to watch and learn from stable jockey and former champion jockey Harry Skelton every day, is also being given the chance to ride in some big races and he continued: “When you’re on a good horse it feels like you’ve got a rocket under you.”

Atkins, who rode at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, has ridden 11 winners in his career so far and he was destined to be a jump jockey.

“It’s something I’ve wanted all my life,” he said. “I’ve always been around horses, my mum used to run the riding school at Bourton Vale Equestrian Centre when I was younger.”

She now works at Richard Phillips’ stable in Adlestrop and Atkins continued: “I always liked going fast when I was on a horse, I used to watch the racing on TV, it always intrigued me.”

And it was National Hunt racing in particular that intrigued him.

“Jump racing gives you more adrenaline,” he said.

Atkins, who competed in pony races but not point-to-points, worked full-time for Condicote-based Martin Keighley when he left school, an opportunity which gave him a very good grounding. 

“I rode three winners for Martin under Rules,” recalled Atkins.

“I rode my first winner in my fourth race. It was at Exeter on Herecomeshogan in October 2022, I was still an amateur, it was a feeling that couldn’t be topped.”

Atkins’ parents, Andrew Farrell and Vicki Boyle-Atkins, both live in Bourton-on-the-Water which is where Atkins still considers home even though he now lives a 45-minute drive away in Warwickshire.

He lives with Tristan Durrell, a 3lb conditional claim jockey with Skelton. It’s Durrell’s house and Atkins said: “We’re rivals on the track but very good mates off it.”