Cheltenham Festival: Jockey turned agent Ian Popham hoping to make a champion of Harry Skelton

FOR more than a decade he risked life and limb in the saddle – now the worst Ian Popham is in danger of is an ear-bashing.

Yet, ten months into his new life as an agent, there has been no fielding calls from disgruntled jocks unhappy at missing a winner.

The way Popham has started his fresh career, there would appear to be no chance of that changing.

This time last year he was still a jockey himself. But as he recovered from a smashed shoulder – he finally decided enough was enough.

At 28, his riding days were over after a litany of injuries, including a twice shattered pelvis, a broken jaw, a fractured cheekbone . . . more breaks than a snooker world champion.

It had been a decent career, riding in Grand Nationals, Grade 1s, different countries, big race winners – and 150 of them in all.

But Popham has never been content with just getting by, and as the rides – and winners – dried up, he knew it was time to look for a life out of the saddle.

Now he is making a name for himself as a jockeys’ agent.

Popham revealed how it all came about – and how those early-morning starts are now even earlier.

He said: “All I ever wanted to be was a jockey and I was lucky enough to have 12 years at it – just unfortunate with injuries.

“I was out for nine months with a broken pelvis at one stage, and that means you lose your rides and it’s hard to get them back.

“It meant I kept losing any real momentum, so last January, when I was out injured again, I decided that was enough.

“Another fall left me with a broken and dislocated shoulder and while I was out I did a bit of training with the Jockeys Employment Training Scheme. Let’s face it, unless you’re a Richard Johnson, you are still going to need to work.