Stories from the Saddle: Dewi Haddock

Dewi Haddock got off the mark – at the age of just 16 and in his first season – in style at the weekend, riding his first winner on Up For Appeal in the Novice Riders race at Howick, then following up immediately when On Springs took the Mens Open.

Dewi's all smiles after his first win (Alun Sedgmore)

Not only did Dewi ride the winners, but he also owns and trains both horses, doing all the work with them himself – along with Mother Sara – and fitting training the pointers around his job working for Christian Williams. Jake Exelby caught up with Dewi following his double to talk about how he got into racing, his ambitions in the sport, and sheep and chickens!

Talk me through your career in racing so far and how you got into point-to-pointing in the first place?

I was born in Newtownards, Northern Ireland, where my Dad was a huntsman. I’ve been living in Wales since I was three and am from Brackla, in Bridgend. I’ve been riding since I can walk – I think I was put on a horse as soon as I came out of hospital! I didn’t have a choice… but thankfully it’s a choice I like.

I did pony club – Mum got me my first pony on loan, then the first one she bought was crazy wild, but I hunted and show jumped it. My first ride was at Cheltenham on Smokey Cot Star, then we bought Tealson Topic, who was more competitive, and my first win was at Trecoed (in 2022) on Rotherwood Spring Festival. They were 138cm ponies – I then moved up to 148cm and got Lil Ron, who won for me at Didmarton and Ystradowen (in 2024). The highlight of my pony racing career was my last ride, at Aintree in October, when I was fourth on Safinas Silverpoet – he came from a polo yard. We do everything ourselves and couldn’t afford to buy top ponies.

Them, exactly two weeks after Aintree, I had my first ride in a point-to-point at Lower Machen.

You work for Christian Williams. How did that connection come about?

Through my stepdad, Matthew, who’s also my sponsor – he does a lot of work for Christian. When Kitty’s Light won the Scottish Grand National, he asked, ‘When can Dewi come and have a ride on him?’ and it went from there. I started riding out on Saturdays and in the school holidays and am now full-time. I do six days a week, as well as every second Sunday. I work for Christian in the morning, do my two pointers in the afternoon, then go back to his for evening stables.

Dewi schooling for Christian Williams

You own, train and ride Up For Appeal and On Springs yourself. How do you get them fit and ready to race?

Mum’s great and I’ve got a good group of friends – the likes of Jimmy Munro, Jonjo Murphy-Knight, Ella Stone and Bruce Vaughan. The old course at Ystradowen is close, so we get together and ride our horses over there. At the start of the season, we probably go twice a week but, now they’re racing regularly, we just keep them ticking over.

Ystradowen - where Dewi takes his horses to get them fit (Alun Sedgmore)

At home, it’s just roads and small fields – no gallops. We work them through a very long puddle – well, it’s a road that gets very wet!

How did you come to buy your two horses?

Christian’s been really good – he sent us Up For Appeal. But you can’t do a proper job with just one so, with the money we got from selling Lil Ron, we bought On Springs. I saw him advertised and had a chat with (his former trainer) Luca Morgan. Because he’s older, we only need to hack and canter him to keep him fresh. He jumps hedges, ditches, God knows what!

Talk me briefly through your first season. At first, you seemed to gel better with Up For Appeal than On Springs.

Lower Machen (where Dewi was fourth on Up For Appeal on his debut) was a good day – I was very pleased with that. Then at Dunsmore we lost the weight cloth half a furlong from the line. He’s been very reliable and I’ve had a few good spins on him.

I fell off On Springs on our first outing at Larkhill, then we were in front when unseating again two out at Wadebridge. He’s quite bold with his jumping and maybe I wasn’t prepared enough. Up For Appeal comes up when you want him to, whereas On Springs comes up when he wants, which caught me out a couple of times! But as I’ve learnt more about him, I’ve got used to him.

It’s taken a while to get your first win, including a close second at Didmarton on Up For Appeal. What have been the frustrations?

Yes, it’s been a long time coming. I was frustrated after Didmarton. We led most of the way and, every time I pressed the go button, the winner kept picking me up. I thought after that that a win wouldn’t come.

Talk me through Howick last Saturday.

On Up For Appeal, I took the lead after the first, picked up the pace and he kept galloping, making the other horses weaken. I couldn’t shake off the second, but he picked up again going into the home straight. I was so proud of him, I couldn’t believe I’d won and had to pinch myself – I was over the moon as my friends and family ran towards me. I was on cloud 39, let alone cloud nine, and I’ve only come down a couple since!

Dewi picks up the pace as Up For Appeal wins (Alun Sedgmore)

On Springs was very lucky, I admit. (He was a remote third when the two horses in front came down). He forgot to take himself out of reverse and I couldn’t do anything about it! But the front two were going very quickly and the time wasn’t too bad. I was so shocked afterwards that I didn’t know what to think. Was I dreaming?

Celebrations after Dewi completes a double on On Springs (Alun Sedgmore)

You’re great friends with Jimmy Munro, who also rode his first winner recently. How did you come to know him? Do you have a friendly rivalry?

Jimmy’s been my best mate for the past two years. We met hunting and have been close ever since. He used to come and watch me pony racing and we do everything together. There’s no rivalry. Neither of us was bothered who had the first win – we’re both just as pleased for each other.

Dewi (light jacket) hunting alongside his friend Jimmy

Me and our friend Morgan Wolfe – who leads up for me – have just bought some Ross Cobb chickens to fatten up. Jimmy loves his chicken pie, and it’ll be ready for his belly next month!

Dewi's about to bake a chicken pie for Jimmy!

I also understand Byron Moorcroft is a bit of a mentor to you. How has he helped your riding career.

Byron’s always been great to me. He helps me out by doing things like walking courses. He started me schooling a couple of years ago, advising me on balance, position and seeing a stride and always comes to support me

Byron Moorcroft and the prolific Ramble On (Neale Blackburn) 

Which horse (not one of your own mounts) would you most like to ride?

Grace A Vous Enki – he’s unstoppable. And our farrier Arron Jones trains a Restricted mare, Myfanwy (out of the prolific Lady Myfanwy). She seems nice and straightforward, and it would be good to have a spin on her.

Which other jockeys do you admire?

Under rules, Sean Bowen, for his strength in a finish, Jack Tudor, who’s always aggressive and ready for it, and Ben Jones – I’m always speaking to his Dad Dai. In points, I speak to Darren Andrews a lot and get on well with James Shaw.

Darren Andrews on Myfanwy - a jockey Dewi admires on a mare he'd like to ride (Tim Holt)

What's your favourite course?

Howick, obviously, in pointing. Under rules, Cheltenham. I rode pony racing there and my goal is to ride a winner there on a big day.

I know you have a Category A licence (to ride under rules against fellow amateurs). What are you most looking forward to about the rest of the season? Any plans to ride under rules?

I hope to have a spin or two for Christian but it’s up to him – only if he thinks I’m good enough. Maybe we’ll run Up For Appeal in a Hunter Chase over 2m4f.

Apart from that, I haven’t set any targets. Just keep progressing, keep my novice status and really go for it next season. We may take Up For Appeal to the Hands & Heels race at Dunsmore – it would be nice to win that series.

What are your ambitions in pointing and racing?

I’ll stay pointing this season and next, then may go conditional if I’ve had enough rides. For now, I just want to stay quiet and gain experience, but I’d like to be champion conditional one day, and ride in the Grand National.

What would you do if you were in charge of the sport?

Bring every meeting possible back to Wales! I know quite a few near us that have gone. It’s meant to be a farmers’ sport but has gone very professional, which can be unfair.

What would you be doing if you weren’t involved with horses?

Playing rugby – I used to play up to a couple of seasons ago, and was quite versatile, but mainly on the wing – or on the farm with the sheep, Welsh Blacks, and chickens, Welsh Speckled Beulahs, I breed.

Dewi proudly showing off one of his Welsh Blacks

What are your non-horsey hobbies?

I’m a member of Bridgend Young Farmers and go there every week.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

I’d like to thank Christian Williams and Arron Jones, who gave me my first outside ride, and to say that I’m proud that Mum and I do it all ourselves.

Dewi Haddock is sponsored by M J Wilson Contracting this season.