Riding as an amateur has long been a recognised route to becoming a professional jump jockey.

Richard Dunwoody, Peter Scudamore, Tony McCoy, Carl Llewellen and many other familiar names were all 'gentleman riders' before joining the paid ranks.

Outstanding among the current crop of amateurs is 20-year-old Ben Hitchcott, based with trainer Gardie Grissell at Robertsbridge.

Hitchcott has ridden around 50 winners in point-to-point, flat, Arab and National Hunt races in two years. In fact, he was the champion jockey in the largely amateur sport of Arabian racing with 24 winners in 2000.

His principal supporter was Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, who will surely be disappointed if his jockey decides to turn professional this summer.

Hitchcott is undecided and stresses his decision will depend upon how successful he is during the next four months.

He said: "It is important to begin your professional career with the 5lb conditional jockey's allowance.

"I am lucky to be on the books of top agent Dave Roberts and he will find it easy to get me rides as a professional if I am still claiming the allowance, so I will have to see how things go between now and the end of the National Hunt season."

Hitchcott enjoyed his summer racing on the sometimes unpredictable Arab horses and would relish a repeat performance, but his long-term plans will have primary consideration.

It is only two years ago that Hitchcott first hit the headlines by winning the Kent Grant National, a long-distance point-to-point at Detling on his father's horse, Celtic Silver.

Now he is seriously in the running for the amateur jump jockey's championship title. His nine winners put him second behind the leader Thomas Scudamore, and Tommy Doyle's decision to turn professional immediately has made matters easier as he was level-pegging with the Robertsbridge jockey.

Hitchcott said: "Tom will have the fire power, riding for Martin Pipe and Nigel Twiston-Davies. But I'll give it my best shot and even to finish runner up to Tom would be a good advert for me for the future."

He is scheduled to partner Struggles Glory at Kempton Park tomorrow.

Hitchcott hopes to repeat the success he had on the course at the Christmas meeting.

Another horse he is looking forward to riding is Buckland Lad who ran so well after a long lay-off to finish second on the Surrey track last week.