Yet Pat Eddery lives the dream every day, remaining one of the top Flat jockeys around.

He looks set to be aboard outsider Where or When in the Epsom Derby on 8 June.

And in addition to seeking his fourth win in in the big race, he harbours a few unfulfilled ambitions.

The Irishman is closing in on Lester Piggott's tally of 4,493 career winners, the second highest amount of victories by any jockey.

Even Sir Gordon Richards's record total of 4,870 could be a target if Eddery continues until 57, the age when Piggott finally retired.

Eddery already boasts 11 champion jockey titles, a record he shares with Piggott.

His three Derby wins are among a portolio of 14 Classic victories.

And he has made the frame a total of 12 times from 29 Derby rides, including a second place on Golan behind Galileo in 2001.

What exactly keeps him motivated to carry on the ritual of dieting and travelling all over the country for rides is quite difficult to fathom.

He could have chosen to retire five years ago when he suffered a serious back injury, but elected to carry on.

He has acknowledged: "I love what I'm doing. And it would be nice to overtake Lester."

Victory in the Derby at Epsom may seem unlikely in 2002.

But it would nudge Eddery one step closer to that aim of beating Piggott, and continue an affair with the track which began 33 years ago.

He rode his first winner, Alvaro, at the Surrey course in April 1969.

Since then he has ridden a Derby winner in three different decades - Grundy in 1975, Golden Fleece in 1982, and Quest For Fame in 1990.

And while Piggott landed nine Derby victories, winning in a fourth consecutive decade would see Eddery emulate another of his old rival's feats.