Patience pays off for Patrick Wadge as the 22-year-old closes in on being crowned Champion Conditional Jockey at Sandown

Patrick Wadge will be rewarded for keeping the faith when the career odds seemed to be stacking up against him if he can hang on to his lead to be crowned Champion Conditional Jockey at Sandown next Saturday.

The 22-year-old Gretna-born jockey, who has three rides at Ayr on Saturday, holds a five-winner lead (35-30) over closest rival Bradley Harris in a season during which his career has again progressed on an upward trajectory.

But Wadge’s resolve was tested during his first two seasons of race riding when he had to wait until his 63rd ride — on Petite Rhapsody at Perth in April 2022 — for his first success.

Wadge, who is based with dual Grand National-winning trainer Lucinda Russell at her Kinross stables, where elder brother Cameron is an assistant trainer, said: ‘I doubted myself numerous times. The person who really backed me when nothing was happening was my jockey coach, Brian Harding.

‘He kept telling me it would happen and that once it did I would start flying and he was right. It is a bit mad to think back now how long I went without a winner

‘I don’t think any win has been quite like the one on Petite Rhapsody. I remember crossing the line and screaming like I had just ridden a Graded winner. It was just a shock to the system. I have probably never appreciated a winner quite like that one.’

Wadge can also call on the experience of Russell’s assistant and partner, eight-time champion jockey Peter Scudamore.

Wadge added: ‘Scu always says what happened was the grounding of me and it has probably helped me in the long run.

‘My Eventing experience before I joined Lucinda probably helped me but my racing brain wasn’t the best.

‘But you learn and pick up things. Scu says when I got going it wasn’t my riding that changed but my confidence that grew. I started believing in myself.’

It is appropriate with a landmark career moment on the horizon that Wadge rides Traprain Law in today’s opener. Wadge has ridden him in nine of his 11 races since he joined the Russell stable from France, winning five times.

Wadge said: ‘He is the horse who helped my career break through and got me going.’