For the rest of the world it may be that Monday morning feeling but for one teenager it will be a day to remember.

Amateur jockey Philip Prince is set to fulfil a lifetime’s dream when he takes his first ride on the Flat at Wolverhampton’s all-weather card next week. 

It would be a day to savour for any young rider but Prince has had to overcome more than most to achieve this moment. He was born with one ear and a lopsided jaw, which resulted in the British Horseracing Authority initially rejecting his application for an amateur rider’s licence in 2008.

The BHA decision not to grant a licence was apparently on the grounds of Prince’s partial deafness. Clearly, the brains trust who came up with that decision had forgotten the achievements of another rider who proved that a hearing disability was not a bar to riding winners. Then again, maybe they have never heard of Lester Piggott.  

Prince and his family appealed the decision of the BHA’s Medical Review Panel and, following two subsequent hearings and over 12 months legal representation, he was recently granted his licence. Must have been a sudden outbreak of common sense somewhere.

If nothing else this young man has staying power and the 17-year-old is now based with Mick Channon at West Ilsey. Prince’s first ride will be on either Cantabilly or Barodine for Somerset trainer Ron Hodges.

Prince got his start on the flourishing pony racing circuit in 2006, where has ridden 30 winners, and his parents, Richard and Dawn, believe that this off-shoot of racing has helped their son. “We are not a racing family and were totally new to the sport yet everybody welcomed us and helped Philip enormously,” they said.   

“Philip has found his disability difficult at times but pony racing turned things around for him.  It has been a long and at times frustrating process to get his licence from the BHA but it has shown that, with the help of pony racing, if you want something bad enough and are as dedicated to it as Philip was things can come good. 

“We are very grateful to the support of so many people who have kept our spirits up and ensured we didn’t give up the fight, but especially to Ron and Mandy Hodges who have nurtured and helped Philip so much.”

Whatever happens on Monday, Prince has every right to feel a winner. 

Paul Wheeler