Racing names share New Year’s resolutions

It’s that time of year again — it’s 1 January and resolutions are being made all over the country.

Maybe you’ll embark on a January detox, vow to go to the gym every day or perhaps just break that riding bad habit.

But fear not — you’re not alone in your good intentions. A host of famous racing faces are also setting their resolutions for 2015.

In a relentless drive for self-improvement some of the sport’s biggest stars have set out their plans for the coming year with a comprehensive list of New Year’s resolutions.

In a survey by Great British Racing, the competitive streak of the racing world was patently clear — with half of interviewees bidding to ride or train more winners in the New Year. Among the specific goals for 2015 are having winners at Royal Ascot and Cheltenham or, as champion trainer Paul Nicholls put it, “I’m just going to try to do better.”

Nicky Henderson has simpler aims, “I will learn to send a text message,” he says.

In such a health conscious sport, a more virtuous lifestyle is also the ultimate goal. Jockey Aidan Coleman plans to “start eating vegetables” while trainer Dan Skelton hopes to “drink less coffee”.

TV presenter and Grand National winning former jockey Mick Fitzgerald has a tougher task to overcome “I’ll try to convince myself that vegetables and salad are good for me!”

Here are the highlights:

Michael Owen — Brown Panther to win The Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

Nicky Henderson — For the third year running, the aim is to learn to send a text message.

Jason Maguire — Ride more winners and eat less Terry’s Chocolate Oranges.

Aidan Coleman — Start eating vegetables.

Sam Twiston-Davies — Try not to swear so much.

Jamie Snowden — Train another Cheltenham Festival winner.

Richard Johnson — Go riding with my children more.

Dan Skelton — Train more winners and drink less coffee.

William Kennedy — Be more positive and more organised.

Leighton Aspell — Ride fewer seconds.

George Baker — Go to Church more.

Daryl Jacob — Ride more winners.

Paul Nicholls (pictured) — Try to do better.

Oisin Murphy — Ride in all the British Champions Series races during the season.

Mick Fitzgerald — Try and convince myself that vegetables and salad are good for me!

Tanya Stevenson — Drive a Maserati, even just for a test run.

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