BACK in 2014, Knockara Beau caused a huge shock in the horseracing world when he ended Big Buck’s run of 18 consecutive victories.

With Big Buck’s the big favourite at 5-4, it was the outsider at 66-1 who edged to victory in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham by the narrowest of margins as he ended his rival’s 100 per cent record.

And behind the success was the pairing of owner and trainer George Charlton and Czech jockey Jan Faltejsek who have built up a strong rapport in the 10 years they’ve worked together from their Stocksfield base.

To many, it may seem like an odd relationship. However, it is proving the perfect partnership with the duo enjoying many successes, most notably the Cheltenham shock.

George said: “Big Buck’s hadn’t been beaten before but along came Knockara at 66-1, and that was a big shock.

“I was interviewed by Clare Balding that day, and I didn’t know what the hell to do!

“It was a team effort and Debbie Howard did the horse for me, and Jan came back to ride it and it won. It was really quite amazing.”

Knockara, now 13, is still knocking around at Stocksfield and will be raced three more times or so before enjoying a well-earned retirement.

The Cheltenham success is just one of the many the pair have enjoyed together, the team returned from the Podrono Milano, in Italy, two weeks ago with a new piece of silverware.

With Jan on Hubal, they were celebrating a big win in a race which attracted a prize fund of 20,000 euros.

The success enjoyed is a culmination of the great working relationship the two have, ever since they were acquainted 10 years ago.

Previously, another Czech jockey, Michael Coles, worked for George until he decided to leave and the Stocksfield trainer was looking for a new employee.

Jan had a great reputation in Czech Republic, a place George visited regularly for the Velka Pardubicka, the country’s biggest horse race.

It was at this point they became friends, and Jan was persuaded to move to the Tyne Valley.

George said: “I offered Jan a job and he wanted to learn, and we have got on ever since. He was the top jockey over there and was recommended to me, so it is was an easy decision. He is famous over there, more famous than the Pope, and he gets inundated when he goes back.

“Jan lives here with his wife Betty and they are part of the family now, and it just seems to work for us all.”

Jan is loving life in Stocksfield and has been made to feel welcome since he arrived, the fact that there were already a few Czech workers at the yard helping him settle.

He originally worked with George for six years before spending two years at Guillaume Macaire’s yard in France to experience a different system.

But the pull of the Tyne Valley called him back a year-and-a-half ago, and he and wife are very content.

Jan said: “My English wasn’t great when I first came here but there were a couple of Czech lads working with George, so it was a lot easier from the start.

“It was like a factory in France and we were racing hundreds of horses all year round, and there was a lot of pressure. This is more quiet and more relaxing, and that suits us.”

Jan has enjoyed further success this year when he won the Velka Pardubicka, notorious for its challenging high jumps and wide ditches, for a fourth time, although this time not on one of George’s horses.

Having won the race successively on Orphee Des Blins between 2012 and 2014, he reclaimed his title this year on Charme Look. And the tale of triumph is an emotional one.

Jan had previously ridden the horse as a youngster, but the jockey broke his pelvis after a fall.

He thought that was his last involvement with the horse until, just weeks before the race, the proposed jockey broke her back on a different horse. The owner, who is in ill health, made a plea for Jan to ride it, and he only went and won it for her!