The Cat is purring on the course

"I got him at the end of last season, which was ideal, because you can get these kids going on the allweather. Being able to claim 7lb or 5lb makes quite a bit of difference to a trainer on the sand tracks.

"Chris is very level headed and rides light without having to sweat to lose weight. Half the battle in this game is not just riding, but being able to sound intelligent and polite, and not many lads can do that. He is very much in the mould of Willie Carson.

"He can give horses a slap when he wants to but he doesn't often resort to the stick. That's why it surprised me the other week when he got a two-day ban for excessive use of the whip, because he rarely goes for it. He is definitely going to the top as he has the right attitude. He is a quiet rider, who realises he still has a lot to learn tactically."

Catlin left Ravenscroft School as soon as he could at 15, having had lessons at his local riding school and showed he was a winner by taking the 'Chase Me Charlie' stakes at his local gymkhana.

Ivory's stables were only 15 minutes away from his home and he joined as a stable lad, later going to Newmarket's British Racing School. His talent was recognised immediately. The course was over 10 weeks, but he was so obviously a natural the 'fast-track' procedure was put in place and he only had to complete three weeks.

Soon after joining Adams's string, 19-year-old Catlin gained his biggest win on Karl Burke's Greenaway Bay at Newmarket in the Ladbroke Autumn Handicap.

Adams recalls: "The first thing I noticed was the great confidence he showed. Here was a kid who had only ridden 12 winners from around 100 rides, in a £40,000 handicap taking a pull two out. He dropped the horse in and took him back until inside the final furlong. It took a lot of bottle." Catlin, son of a delivery driver, still has plenty to play with. He has nearly 30 wins to go before losing his 3lb claiming allowance which makes him so attractive to handlers wanting to take that vital bit extra off their horses's backs.

Mongan is still a threat to him in the title race, but he has now lost his right to claim and Catlin is favourite.

Ivory soon knew he had got a good one. The trainer said: "The moment I sat him on a horse at home he looked a natural. He has a lovely way with a horse - he just lets them do their own thing and they work for him.

"He listens to you and takes note and I could do with another lad like him because it is gratifying when you see an apprentice improving in the way Chris has. He is equally good riding on the turf as he is on the all-weather."

The rider, whose successes include a hard-fought win on Establishment at Ascot earlier this month, goes to scale at 7st 10lb.

He said: "Of course I'd love to become champion jockey, but there is a long way to go and a lot of hard work."