FORMER Farmor’s School pupil Tom Garner has won the Vel’ká Starohájska Steeplechase in Bratislava, Slovakia, despite losing his saddle and stirrups.

In an eventful race Garner, riding Mr Pamperito, had to ride bareback for the latter stages but still managed to maintain his seat and go on to win the tightly-fought contest.

In a post-race interview, Garner said: “He made a mistake in the straight and when I jumped the cross fence I thought about pulling up.

“But I don’t get paid to pull up, I get paid to finish or fall off. I was getting paid to do a job and thankfully the horse helped me out and I did it.

“It gives me a lot of pleasure to show my ability. I’m a bit sore now mind but it’ll be alright.”

Garner, a professional jump jockey based at the stables of Grand National-winning trainer Oliver Sherwood, now travels to the Czech Republic to compete in the infamous Velká Pardubická on October 11.

Garner knows what to expect having successfully competed in a trial race recently to get his locally-trained mount qualified.

The Pardubická is run over more than four and a half miles and 31 obstacles and is considered to be more dangerous than our own Grand National.

Tom was due to compete in the race last year but broke his leg in a freak accident on the Lambourn gallops.