HEMYOCK’s Tom Buckley has had the best moment of his young career as a jockey.

Buckley, aged 19, rode No Trumps, owned by HM The Queen, to victory at 7-1 in a handicap hurdle at Wetherby on Friday afternoon.

He grew up in Hemyock, where his family still live, and went to Uffculme School, after which he went to work for local trainer Nigel Hawke, where his father, Eddie, is the assistant and brother, Kieren, also works as a jockey.

Earlier this autumn, however, the conditional jockey moved to Chipping Norton to join Charlie Longsdon’s yard.

As he travelled back from Wetherby in the horse box, Buckley talked about his win on the Queen’s horse.

He said: “I have ridden out on No Trumps at the yard but, as I’ve only been working for Charlie for fewer than three months, it was a bit of a surprise to get the chance to ride the Queen’s horse at Wetherby.

“I knew it had a chance and then for it to pay off and win like it did was just brilliant for me.

“It was an enjoyable ride and we won pretty easily by six lengths.”

This is Buckley’s third season and his second year as a conditional jockey; to date, he has won 11 races.

However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing for Buckley because in September this year he suffered a fall at Uttoxeter, in which he broke his collarbone, keeping him out of action for six weeks.

“I felt very proud when I put the Queen’s riding colours on and then to go out and win was something very special, in fact the best moment of my career without doubt,” he said.

“Fingers crossed, I hope that there will be a lot more winners to come for me.”

Buckley is something of a sporting all-rounder, being the Taunton & Pickeridge Golf Club junior champion in 2016.