Former X Factor contestant and pop singer Bradley Hunt has left the music industry behind to pursue a career as a professional jockey, drawing surprising parallels between the two demanding professions. According to an interview with the Racing Post published in March 2024, Hunt now works full-time in Newmarket, riding out racehorses after stepping away from his time in the spotlight as part of the pop duo Ottavio and Bradley.
Hunt, who competed on the ITV singing competition in 2016, explained to the Racing Post that the physical and mental pressures of being a pop star share a striking resemblance to the intense weight restrictions and physical risks faced by jockeys. Transitioning from television studios and red carpets to the historic racing hub of Newmarket required a complete lifestyle overhaul, driven by a lifelong passion for horses that preceded his brief musical fame.
From ITV’s The X Factor to Newmarket Gallops
During his stint on The X Factor eight years prior, Hunt gained public attention alongside his singing partner Ottavio Columbro. Despite the entertainment career path laid out after the reality show, Hunt told the Racing Post that his heart remained tied to equestrian sports. He eventually relocated to Newmarket, Suffolk, to learn the trade from the ground up, starting with stable management duties before advancing to riding out thoroughbreds on the training grounds.
Working in Britain’s horseracing capital demands early mornings and rigorous physical endurance. Hunt noted that maintaining strict dietary discipline to meet strict racing weight limits feels remarkably similar to the body-image pressures enforced within the pop music sector. Both industries, according to his accounts in the Racing Post, place individuals under heavy public scrutiny where performance and physical presentation dictate professional survival.
Parallels Between Pop Stardom and Horseracing
The crossover from entertainment to equestrian sports remains rare, but Hunt emphasizes that the adrenaline rush of performing live on stage matches the thrill of galloping a powerful racehorse at high speeds. Industry peers in Newmarket have welcomed the former singer into the tightly knit racing community, where his dedication to the daily routine quickly dispelled any skepticism regarding his celebrity background.
By trading pop charts for racecards, Hunt joins a small group of individuals who have successfully pivoted away from high-profile media careers into specialized physical trades. His day-to-day existence now revolves around stable yards rather than recording booths, marking a permanent shift away from the television spotlight.
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