IT was only at Southwell, but for Jacob Butterfield there is no feeling like the thrill of victory.

When the York apprentice rode his first winner, on Thrust Control for Norton trainer Brian Ellison, he wished he could bottle the sensation – the pure joy of having a winner – and experience it every day.

That emotion has not diminished on the four other occasions the 7lb claimer has crossed the finish line in front, and he is hoping that desire to succeed will help him to forge a career on the turf.

The 19-year-old certainly isn’t lacking for expert advice.

Former champion jockey Kevin Darley is his coach, dual title winner Paul Hanagan rang him up when he delivered that first winner, in only his third ride, in March 2011, and he is currently with savvy Norton trainer Ollie Pears.

Butterfield has spent time at Musley Bank with Richard Fahey and at Norton with Brian Ellison, and has seen how big yards operate.

But it was the jockeys he was watching the most.

“The likes of Paul Hanagan and Tony Hamilton are very strong jockeys and I am trying to base myself around riders like that,” he said.

“They are so effective and they really get the most out of a horse. I’m quite tall and I look at some of the taller lads as well and see how they cope with it – people like Adam Kirby and George Baker.

“Race riding is all I want to do. Short term, I want to do better than last year – have more rides, ride more winners and get more experience.

“In the long term, I want to be successful on the Flat, riding winners, building up contacts and becoming known for being a strong, effective jockey. I think it’s better to be stronger, rather than look stylish, and be more effective.

“Some people might be more worried about how they look whereas I like to try and get the job done.”

Having ridden ponies and competed in showjumping events from the age of five, Butterfield got into racing seriously at 15 when he was still at school.

A day a week at Doncaster’s Northern Racing College gave him the basic skills necessary and work with Tadcaster-based Tom Tate gave him a solid grounding before he went to Fahey and watched Hanagan ply his trade.

“Paul is absolutely brilliant,” added Butterfield. “When I rode my first winner he was texting me and ringing me the next day to say ‘well done’. You wouldn’t normally get a champion jockey ringing a 7lb claimer up.

“Brian (Ellison) was great, as well. He got me my first few rides and my first winner. He looked after me. But, even in a slightly smaller yard, there were three or four apprentices and I was at the bottom. I rode a winner for Ollie, in November last year, on Lujano and I started with him in January and have been there ever since.

“He’s got about 30 horses and plenty of two-year-olds to be going at. You are doing the basics with those, like in the starting stalls, and that is great experience. I’m the only apprentice in the yard.

“Hopefully he can get me on as much as he can and I can try to get as much experience as possible.”

Butterfield’s 50th ride came at Beverley on Wednesday and he will shortly be on TV after Darley asked him to appear on an episode of The Hairy Bikers Diet to give advice on how to keep a balanced weight.

The youngster said the 2000 champion had been a massive help.

“I’m learning more with every ride, especially this season,” he said. “I have an equiciser and I’m on that most days as well as watching my race replays and trying to improve. Ollie has helped me with that and Kevin Darley is my jockey coach.

“When Kevin is around we will record it and watch it back.”

All of which is progress that saw him selected, along with fellow apprentices George Chaloner and Ian Burns, to represent England at the European Association of Racing Schools competition at Chantilly, in France.

Butterfield explained: “Last year it was in Ireland and I got to ride out for Dermot Weld. That was a great experience, riding work on the Curragh and race riding there at the Irish St Leger meeting, and this year it was at Chantilly.

“It was a different world and good to see how they do things over there. There was one race, on the Sunday, and I finished third on 25-1 shot Piccolo. He ran an absolute blinder.”

Most important, though, is winning.

“It was like all my birthdays and Christmases at once,” Butterfield said of that first winner. “There is no feeling like it. It’s amazing. It was only at Southwell. It wasn’t like it was at a big meeting and it was great.

“Even finishing in the frame can be a great buzz – to know that you have been able to get the best out of a horse. That feeling hasn’t changed at all. It’s exactly the same. Everything about racing is great.”