Dan Muscutt is a jockey on the up.

Brought up in West Wales, the son of South African-based trainer Peter Muscutt rode a career-best 45 winners in the UK last year.  However, a rapid start to the 2021 campaign has seen him ride 21 winners at a 25% strike rate and with the turf season yet to get underway.

We’re delighted that Dan has agreed to join us on Race Sharp this season and we look forward to keeping you updated on how his season progresses in the months ahead.

On his career highlight (so far)…

Fanciful Angel providing me with a winner at the Dubai Carnival is a memorable one, especially as it came for Marco and just as I was out of my apprenticeship, so it was a welcome boost.  He was a very talented horse and came so close to giving me a Group 1 winner when runner-up in the Arlington Million.  Still, it was an exceptional run and an unforgettable experience for me.

On his target for the season…

My target last year was 50 winners and I fell just short of that.  Having made such a good start this time around, that has to be the first aim this year.  Once the turf season gets underway, it will also be great to have the opportunity to sit on some better-quality horses.

On riding out…

I rode winners for 15 different trainers last year and continue to ride out for a lot of yards, primarily in Newmarket but I do go down to Epsom occasionally as well.

My base is at James Fanshawe’s, who has been the biggest supplier of rides and winners in my career and is my main supporter – I am in there at least twice a week.

I was apprentice to Marco Botti and still go in there as often as I can, usually twice a week.  I also ride out for James Ferguson and Kevin Phillipart de Foy.  Kevin was assistant to James Fanshawe for the last few years until starting training in the autumn and I’ve been trying to go in as often as possible over the winter while things are quieter.

On this winter’s star performer…

Mike Murphy has had his team in exceptional form all winter and Mulzim has been an absolute star for him.  A very thick-set horse, he really has the ideal stamp for a sprinter and has speed to burn.  He has taken very well to Southwell over the past year, but really improved this All-Weather season, winning four times and climbing 21lbs in the handicap.

Mike is keen to have a go with him on turf and though I don’t think he would want fast ground, he will get in some very nice handicaps off his mark and hopefully can translate his winter form to the grass.

One to watch

Classical Wave won nicely on his first start for Peter Charalambous.  He is a very well-bred and lightly-raced four year old (three-parts brother to Weekender), and there could be a couple more races in him off his mark.