A thousand winners and counting, milestone maker David Probert warms up for Ascot with another first for the season.
Chepstow begins the Welsh Flat season in his home country on Monday- and the 30-year-old has eight rides.
One of his best tracks for winners, the trip may not make any headlines, but for Probert it felt good to be home ahead of the biggest week in the job.
"It's always a buzz to go home and ride at Chepstow," he said.
"I feel I ride pretty well there and the Welsh trainers support me.
"It's one of my favourite tracks."
Rather bizarrely on the noise front, Probert won't notice much difference between the trip across the border and the royal meeting.
Barely a decibel will be heard with so few in attendance, as he tries to follow-up his 2014 Britannia Stakes win on Born In Bombay.
Trainer Andrew Balding again supplies the ammunition on day one, with Hold Fast in the Ribblesdale Stakes and Diocletian over the Gold Cup trip in the Ascot Stakes.
Then there is the brace of unexposed handicappers for Wednesday, Kipps in the King George V Stakes and Ranch Hand racing for first prize in the Copper Horse staying event.
"It will be odd being at Royal Ascot with hardly anyone being there," said Probert.
"It's an immense place, the meeting is the Olympics of our sport.
"I think us jockeys are all just delighted to be back racing. There are a lot of checks you have to do before you can get into the racecourse and people have been working hard behind the scenes to get us there."
Wearing a coronavirus mask, the norm nowadays, Probert hit 1,000 winners when Tronada won at Lingfield on June 8.
The final furlong on his way to the haul came as his employer Balding took the 2,000 Guineas with Kameko, the first British Classic of the year.
In 2018, Probert was within a length and a half of winning the race on 50/1 shot Tip Two Win.
"I've hit the crossbar a few times," he said.
"But it was incredible to reach 1,000 winners. I'm thankful to everyone who has supported me.
"I’ve been at Kingsclere from day one. I was champion apprentice with Andrew and have had plenty of good winners.
"For him to win the 2,000 Guineas was a massive achievement. A lot of hard work has gone into it."
Last year brought a seasonal best of 112 winners and 300 extra rides than usual for the Welshman, who shared the apprentice title with William Buick in 2008.
One of them, Symbolize, finished fourth when sent off joint favourite for a juvenile sprint at Royal Ascot 2019.
Probert is looking forward to getting back on board in the Jersey Stakes on Thursday- and hopes he can put in a bold show against in-form duo Frankie Dettori and John Gosden's King Leonidas, plus French raider Celestin.
"Symbolize looks great and he's strengthened up," Probert said.
"He just needed some time to mature and he's a lot more professional now."
Royal Ascot features eight QIPCO British Champions Series races. More information can be found here.
