His career in the saddle got off to a shaky start when his mount, Lynchpin, was a faller in the Breedon Hill Hunters’ Chase at Pershore on October 21, 1912. It took a while before he rode his first winner but when it finally arrived, it was certainly one to remember. It came aboard 10-1 shot Hackler’s Boy who landed the three-mile Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on April 15, 1914, beating top jockey Ernie Piggott on Ballycarron by a short head.