3 minute read
Man of the moment Joe Anderson bids for Lanzarote glory on board Mothill at Kempton.
Although not every racing fan would have known Joe Anderson heading into 2024, there's no doubt they know who he is now after the conditional rider swept the headlines following his miraculous winning ride on Transmission in the Sussex Stayers Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton on Sunday.
The 27-year-old 5lb conditional looked to have absolutely no chance of keeping the partnership intact after the Neil Mulholland-trained gelding pecked disastrously on landing at the sixth flight. However, after Anderson spent what must have seemed like an eternity hanging around the neck of his mount, the rider somehow defied gravity and managed to pull his way back into the saddle, eventually slipping his feet back into the irons before driving Transmission clear for a remarkable two and a quarter length success.
The lifelong Evertonian has admitted things have been busy in the media department following the pair's eye-catching victory on Sunday.
He said: "It has been manic since Sunday to be honest, but it has started to quieten down now, and everything is starting to get back to normal.
"I've done the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, and been on BBC Radio 5 Live, and BBC Radio Merseyside, while it has given my social media profile a boost.
"My dad said to me it was on Sky Sports News and he said if I never do anything else that will do for me.
"Some people have already mentioned it being ride of the season but there are a good few weeks of it left and I'm sure there will be someone else who does something spectacular.
"At first I felt a bit embarrassed, but then I saw the amount of people that welcomed me back in and the reception I got was great, while the boys gave me a good return in the weighing room so I thought I must have done alright."
Anderson, who is based with Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Emma Lavelle, now has his sights on landing what would be the biggest success of his career as he partners Transmission's stablemate Mothill to glory in the £100,000 feature contest at Kempton on Saturday.
The improving six-year-old son of Golden Horn won nicely over two and a half miles at Sedgefield on Boxing Day and Anderson, who takes off 5lb to negate any rise in the weights, described his mount has having the 'perfect profile' for the valuable handicap.
Anderson said: "I would say that he has got a good old chance. It is a super competitive race, and he will have to step up again, but he is a progressive young horse that has the right sort of profile for a race like this as he is a strong traveller who stays very well.
"He went up five pounds for his last win, but my claim takes care of that, and he did it nicely up at Sedgefield.
"I was obliged to ride for Emma at Wincanton on Boxing Day, but I had a good chat with Jonjo (O'Neill Junior, who rode him) before the race, and he really looked a nice horse the way he did it.
"The first day I rode him was down at Chepstow on Grand National day and he gave me a great feeling then when he was beaten by Spirit D'Aunou. He was then beaten at Fontwell by Mullinaree, who won two races afterwards, so the form has stacked up well.
"He got the job done at Uttoxeter, and then he was good at Sedgefield the other day. He hasn't really raced in a big field, but this race should suit him, and he is a horse going the right way."