JOCKEY Charlie Todd left his boss red-faced after a Cheltenham winner when he told him: “That’s better than losing my virginity!”
Todd rode out his claim after guiding 7-2 fav Malakahna to victory in the Grade Three Junior Jumpers Membership Fillies’ Juvenile Handicap Hurdle on Thursday.
Hat-trick completed
Malakahna is another big winner for @ianwilliamsraci & @charliet0dd, powering to success at @CheltenhamRaces in this £40,000 event
Results & free replays
https://t.co/sBcsavpOzF pic.twitter.com/WVtYGVdQ41
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 14, 2022
A claim is a weight allowance a young jockey has – they lose it after a certain number of wins.
Todd, 21, has been in great form recently with a winner at the Grand National Festival at Aintree last weekend.
He kept the good times rolling at the home of jumps racing, but caught boss and trainer Ian Williams off-guard with his hilarious quip.
Williams said: “Charlie said to me that losing his claim was better than losing his virginity!
“He didn’t say that to you [the media] but honestly that’s what he said – ‘boss, that’s better than losing my virginity’.
“He’s had a big week, he had his first Graded winner at Aintree and he’s lost his claim today and I wish him every luck moving forward.
“It’s always tougher for the young lads once they lose their claim, but he’s probably going to find it easier than when he lost his virginity!
“He’s a great asset to our team and I’m delighted for him.”
Todd was slightly more shy when chatting to the press afterwards.
He said: “It’s my first winner here and my claim has gone now, so it’s great. I’ve had a great couple of days to be honest with you and had a Graded winner at Aintree on Saturday.
“She’s a tough mare and if you look at her, she’s not very big and she’s won four races this term so it’s great and a good training performance by the boss.
“I spoke to my agent Ian Popham at the start of the season and the plan was to ride out the claim this year.
“We had a difficult summer as such with injuries and things but we’ve got it done now so hopefully we can keep going forward.
And speaking of Malakhana’s sultry run, Williams added: “What an amazing filly though, she’s won three novices and to be fair she’s tiny and I thought that the weight she had on her back today would make it really tough for her but she’s galloped all the way to the post.”
