Last year The British Racing School turned out two promising apprentices who were thrown into the spotlight in their first full seasons with a licence.

Both riders have just returned from working holidays abroad and it would seem are going full out to become champion apprentice this year.

Luke Morris

Patrick Hills (18) who is attached and closely monitored by his trainer Mark Tompkins has just returned to Newmarket from Dubai where from only 3 rides he rode a winner in the blue and white colours of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. Patrick came through the BRS nine week Foundation Course in the summer of 2005. In September of the same year Patrick successfully completed his Licence Course under the tuition of BRS Jockey Coach Richard Perham.
Last year Patrick notched up 18 winners from 125 rides and rode for over 25 different trainers. Mark Tompkins who supplied 39 of those rides said of his young apprentice "Patrick is such a natural rider, quiet and very relaxed on a horse, but when he gets on the race track he has an amazing desire to win".

Luke Morris, also 18, is attached to the Newmarket stable of Michael Bell responsible for 2005 Derby winner Motivator. Luke has recently returned from a three month working holiday in California, a route that has been taken by previous champion apprentices such as Frankie Dettori and Daryl Holland.
It was the trainer's idea to send Luke over to America for experience and also with the thought of saving Luke's valuable 7lb riding allowance.
Luke enrolled on The BRS Increased Flexible Learning Programme at the age of 14, a programme that involved him coming back to the BRS one day a week whist he was at school in Newmarket. This tuition revolved around riding, learning stable management and also horse care, all of which resulted in a level 2 NVQ Qualification in horse care.
Luke's first full year riding saw him in the winner's enclosure 13 times from 120 attempts. So far this year Luke has shown his will and desire to become a champion by riding 4 winners from 14 rides.


Both graduates of the BRS have a total of 18 domestic winners each to their names. One has flown from the East and one from the West to meet up in the middle to shoot out for this years Apprentice title.