Charlie Huxley

Charles Huxley was born on November 9, 1987, the son of a Shropshire farmer. His grandfather was the well-known National Hunt jockey Roy Edwards, who won the 1967 Champion Hurdle on Saucy Kit.

Charlie spent most of his career, firstly as an amateur and subsequently as a professional, with Barbury Castle trainer Alan King. He began his racing career at the age of 16, spending a year and a half in Ireland with trainer Michael Hourigan. He then came back and rode point-to-pointing for Sheila Crow. Richard Burton, who was riding a lot for Sheila Crow at the time, arranged for Charlie to Alan King’s stable.

Charlie then graduated to riding under National Hunt rules and in amateur riders’ races on the Flat. He rode three winners on the Flat in 2007, sharing that year’s amateur riders’ title with Ross Birkett.

He rode eleven winners during the 2007/08 jumps season, which placed him fourth in the list of leading amateur riders. Moreover, he enjoyed a sensational spring, landing the two biggest winners of his career, Cheltenham’s four-mile National Hunt Chase on Alan

King’s Old Benny in March 2008 as well as the Scottish Grand National on the Sean Curran-trained Iris de Balme a month later. He turned conditional the following season and went on to amass 81 jumps winners in addition to those three on the Flat.

But once he had ridden out his claim, the winners and rides started to dry up. He announced his retirement, aged only 26, in December 2013, citing lack of opportunities, adding that he planned to work at home on his father’s farm for the winter while he considered what direction his next career should take.

He then joined a network selling life insurance. However, he’d always had an interest in property so decided to move on and take some mortgage advising exams. JETS, the Jockeys Employment Training Scheme, helped fund them and within two months he had qualified.

In August 2016 he started a new job as a mortgage adviser for Knight Frank, based in their Esher office. He now lives in London.