Former Jockey Jamie rides towards the X Factor

Most jockeys who hang up their riding boots retire to work in a racing yard or offer their tips as a pundit. However, one former Flat jockey, Jamie Hamblett, has his sights firmly set on singing stardom after his band made it through to the live finals on the X Factor.
The twenty-four year old entered the popular reality talent show as part of a trio, Triple J, with his friends Jaymi Hensley and Josh Cuthbert. After their sensational opening audition, the group narrowly missed out on making it to the judges’ houses stage. However, with another band pulling out of the competition and the addition of George Shelley, they rebranded themselves as Union J, and were whisked out to Las Vegas for their chance to wow judges Louis Walsh and Sharon Osborne. The band smashed it with a rendition of ‘Call Me Maybe’ and will be one of only 12 acts to make it through to this Saturday’s live finals.
Jamie, who lives in horseracing’s HQ, Newmarket, is a former apprentice jockey to Sir Michael Stoute and continues to ride out for John Gosden, the current leading flat trainer of 2012. The riding may have to go on hold though – in less than a week the band has picked up 130,000 Twitter followers and a host of well-wishers from the racing world who are already touting the lads as the hottest new boy band – One Direction – watch out!
To listen to some of the messages to Jamie and the boys from the racing world click here.
See how Jamie and the rest of Union J get on by tuning into the X Factor on ITV1 at 8pm this Saturday 6th October.