Death of trainer will spur youngster

"My grandad always had horses and he got me into them, Renwick recalls. "My mum got me a pony when I was three, and I always used to watch the racing and wanted to be a jockey.

"Everyone encouraged me but they always thought there wasn't much chance of me making it, so they encouraged me to look at other options.

"But I ignored them and did what I wanted to do, and it has started to work out now."

Having gone through the obligatory pony riding and showjumping as a child, Renwick got his first experience of a racing stable with local trainer Donald Whillans, when he was 14, riding out after school and at weekends.

In July last year Renwick moved south of the border to Malton in North Yorkshire, to join Jimmy FitzGerald. But, with established stable conditional jockey Peter Ryan getting the rides on most of the yard's horses, the Scot's opportunities were thin on the ground, and he had to make do with two or three rides.

Frustrated and aware of the need to get some career momentum if he wasn't to regret ignoring his parents' advice to keep his options open, Renwick moved back to Scotland in January to join Lockerbie trainer Parker.

"Peter had been going really well, and I was just there at the wrong time", Renwick said. "But I hadn't ridden a winner under Rules at that time, and Colin Parker offered me a job. I rode my first winner,Gem Of Holly, for him at Sedgefield in January."

A treble at Perth a fortnight ago brought the five pound claimer some welcome headlines and now his career finally seems to be taking off.

"I would say I'm pleased rather than surprised," Renwick said. "Last season nothing was happening and suddenly everything has started to fly. This season, I know if I have got the horses that I can do it."

The most crucial asset any young rider can bring to a horse is balance - strong muscles are no advantage unless they are all pushing in the same direction, and flailing arms can pull a jockey from an even keel.

Renwick, with the help of an overworked video recorder, meticulously studies every one of his rides to refine his technique. The conditional championship is his first aim.

"I'd love to do it this season or next," Ren-wick said. "I know it's not easy, but I have got the support of Andrew Parker and other trainers like Micky Hammond and Howard Johnson, so it wouldn't be impossible. If you don't set your sights high, you are not going to get anywhere."

Granted freedom from injury, Renwick is widely tipped to be offered another move south once his talents reach a wider stage after the Flat season finishes.

The questions about ambition, though unfortunate in timing, are still relevant. He answers them with all the diplomacy of a bright young footballer asked about a move from the club that gave him a start to a Premiership giant.

"If it happens, then we'll look at that," Ren-wick said. "But while everything is flying here, and I am riding plenty of winners, there is no way I would want to move.

"I like living here and, until I rode the Perth treble, a lot of southern trainers didn't know who I was, even though I had ridden a treble and three doubles before. But if there was a big job, that might be a different story.