STEVE BUTT finds local jockey Alan Daly swapping the saddle for the ring.

JOCKEY Alan Daly has found a unique way of keeping his weight down this winter.

Rather than fasting or hitting the treadmill down the gym, the 32-year-old from Marlborough has dumped his saddle in favour of a pair of boxing gloves.

This time of year can be very quiet for a jockey with rides becoming increasingly more competitive so, in between his racing duties, Daly decided to find something else to focus on.

Walcot Amateur Boxing Club offered Daly the chance to try out boxing and, after only a few months of training at the club in County Road, he had completed the transformation from jockey to boxer.

Last Friday, at Walcot ABC's annual show, Daly made his boxing debut, a winning one at that, beating Lydney's Dominic Ash on a majority decision.

"It was a great experience," said Daly after the fight.

"I was nervous before the fight, not about getting a slap but more about losing, that's all I was really nervous about.

"Once I got in there all the nerves went and adrenalin took over. It was a real adrenalin rush.

"He was smaller than me and he kept coming out looking for a brawl but I tried to use my left jab to keep him out.

"The adrenalin kept me going."

Boxing is obviously very different to life on the back of a horse, so how did Daly compare the two?

"I obviously get a massive rush from horse racing and obviously that's my profession," added Daly.

"The boxing though was a great experience.

"The training I had done with Dave Veysey, Harry Scott, Dave Holyday and Tony Fitzgerald really helped me and gave me the edge in the fight.

"It was my first fight and I've got a lot to learn from it. Tonight was just a really great experience."

After his 15-12, 12-11, 9-7 victory, Daly came out unscathed but says he has no plans to end his new-found hobby just yet.

"This time of year it is quiet on the all-weather and it is a lot more competitive to get rides, so the boxing training helps to get the weight down and keep me super fit," added Daly.

"It is more competitive to try and gets rides this time of year so I either keep myself fit by going down the gym on a treadmill which is boring as hell or I could do the boxing, which gives me something to focus on.

"If I have a ride in the week I am super fit because of the boxing. It keeps me fit, sharp and helps me keep the weight down.

"Jockeys and boxers are very similar trying to keep their weight down. One drink or one decent meal and the weight is back on again.

"If the club get me another couple of bouts I'll do it. I only want to box if they want me to box."

And while the club has helped give Daly a fantastic experience within the ring, he also sang the club's praises for the work they do within the community.

Daly added: "It is a great club they do so much for the community.

"All the lads are down there every night, they train so hard and it keeps them off the streets.

"It is just a fantastic bit of motivation and the club doesn't get the recognition it deserves.

"You only get out of it what you put in, the trainers really push you.

"It's fantastic for the community, you hear that there isn't enough for kids to do these days and yet you have this facility on the doorstep."

So when's Daly's next fight?

"I'm back racing this week but I'll keep boxing training," said Daly.

"I've got two more years in the boxing ring as you can be an amateur boxer until you're 34 so we'll see.

"I'd like to do it again. Hopefully my professional career will go on a little longer than my boxing one though.

"I'd like to thank everyone for supporting me on Friday."