Aamilah Aswat becomes first Black British female jump jockey aboard Guchen

Aamilah Aswat made history at Kempton Park when she guided Guchen to victory in the Best Odds Guaranteed Overnight at CopyBet Handicap Hurdle, a Class 4, 2m 5f contest, beating a field of ten professional riders on a 9-1 chance. The 20-year-old, on just her fourth professional ride and riding as a 10lb claimer, crossed the line first to register a breakthrough win that shifts attention from pure results to the sport’s widening talent pipeline.

Guchen, trained by Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls, settled well under Aswat and showed staying power in the closing stages. The race was run at a steady pace before Aswat asked for sustained effort approaching the last two flights; the pair stayed on strongly and held off late challengers to win. The result underlines Aswat’s poise under pressure and the horse’s willingness to respond when pressed. The owners, Friends Of Ebony Horse Club, were reported to have received a £5,000 cheque for the victory.

Aswat framed the personal importance of the moment immediately after the race. “First of all I would like to thank everyone who has supported me every step of the way and to Kim and Mat and the owners for giving me this opportunity. Words can’t express what it feels like to have achieved this win so soon. I just feel really happy and hopefully it’s just the beginning for me and there’ll be many more wins to come in my career,” she said, reflecting both gratitude and ambition. She added that the experience of riding against seasoned pros builds confidence: “When you're riding against professionals, it builds your confidence. You can ask them for advice, and they're always nice.”

Aswat’s pathway into jump racing tracks a modern push to diversify British racing. She grew up in Gloucester of Indian and Jamaican heritage, learned to ride at St James’s City Farm, raced ponies through the Pony Racing Authority and took part in the inaugural Riding A Dream Academy scholarship in 2021-22. She completed the Foundation Course at the British Racing School, worked at the Bailey and Nicholls yard near Cheltenham, and took out her jockey’s licence in Autumn 2025. Naomi Lawson, co-founder of the Riding A Dream Academy, said: “We’re so incredibly proud of Aamilah. She has always been a stand-out talent and we are so pleased that all her hard work has paid off. For her to make history today and become the first Riding A Dream Academy student to win a race is incredible and we are so grateful to everyone who has supported her on her journey.”

Beyond the headline, the result carries industry and social weight. It validates investment in targeted development schemes and shows that academy routes, pony racing and structured apprenticeships can deliver ready-made talent into the National Hunt ranks. Aswat has signalled she intends to build on this success: “For younger girls, it gives them the message that they can do it and I'll be following you every step of the way. Now I want to ride as many winners as I can and just get along with it.” Her win is likely to inspire new participants and focus owners and trainers on widening access while also reminding racing of the commercial and cultural benefits of championing diverse pathways.