Peter Barron talks to Paula Muir about her successful run and her hopes for the future...

PAULA Muir has come a long way since she started having pony riding lessons as an eight-year-old growing up in the heart of the Lanarkshire countryside.

These days, she has her sights fixed firmly on making a living as a professional jockey as 2018 develops into a breakthrough season.

Paula, 23, joined the Michael Dods stable in the quiet village of Denton, near Darlington, in March and the winners have started to flow.

Last month, she broke through the 20-winner barrier and dropped her claim from 7lbs to 5lbs when one of her favourite horses, The Armed Man, trained at Middleham by Chris Fairhurst, won at Redcar.

It was her sixth win on the horse and she can’t hide her affection for him: “I owe him so much. We trust each other, and he’s the one who really got me going,” said Paula, who went on to secure her first double when The Resdev Way won for Richmond trainer Philip Kirby.

At the time of writing, she’s on 23 winners from 314 rides, with more trainers taking note of the way horses run for her, and she considers herself lucky to be attached to the Michael Dods yard.

“It has been such a good move for me. There’s a really good system in place and everyone knows their job. I just love being here,” she said.

She also acknowledges the value of debriefs at the end of riding out each morning and being able to learn from a quality team that includes Paul Mulrennan and Callum Rodriguez.

“I’m always trying to listen and learn from others with more experience,” she said. “Danny Tudhope is also someone I have a lot of respect for and who has been a big source of advice.”

Paula grew up in the town of Carluke. Her dad had his own printing business and her mum is a High School support teacher. Her uncle had a couple of trotting horses and she remembers breaking one of them in to ride.

When she was 14, she started mucking out for trainer Ian Semple in the Carluke yard now occupied by Keith Dalgleish.

At 16, she went to the Doncaster Racing College before spending more than three years on a placement with Mark Johnston, who supported her by sending her to Newmarket to obtain her licence as an apprentice.

A short spell with Nigel Tinkler followed before she joined Patrick Holmes at Spigot Lodge, outside Middleham, for two seasons.

Now she’s thriving as an important member of the team at Denton Hall.

“My aim this season was to lose my 7lbs claim and I’ve achieved that, so I just want to go on riding winners and, hopefully, end up making a living as a jockey,” she said.

One thing’s for certain – it won’t be for the want of trying.