Lewis heads to Florida

Walsh, 24, who works for Newmarket-based trainer David Simcock, landed the biggest win of his career when riding the Simcock-trained Breton Rock to victory in the QIPCO Future Stars Apprentice Handicap, the final race at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day.

The victory gained him a trip to Motion's Florida-based stables. Motion, who saddled last year's Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, trains eight horses for Qatar Racing, the racing operation owned by Sheikh Hamad and Sheikh Fahad Al Thani and a subsidiary of QIPCO Holding.

Looking ahead to his trip, Walsh said: "I am very excited. I spent some time in Australia last year and learnt a bit about pace and fractions there. I want to develop the skill of using the clock in my head to judge pace and I have no doubt I will learn a lot more in Florida.

"It's a fantastic opportunity and such a great prize for a young jockey, I'm really grateful to QIPCO for arranging everything. Riding abroad provides such valuable experience. I was in Italy riding on Saturday and next stop is Florida. I will be back in time for the start of the turf season here."

Walsh took out a licence in 2010 and rode his first winner at Wolverhampton on the subsequently Group One-placed Secret Asset.