Jockey Nick Hall reveals the extreme diet he follows to be ready for the Melbourne Cup

NO solid food for three days, juice cleanses, dodgy guts and green beans as a treat. Melbourne Cup hopeful Nick Hall reveals his extreme pre-race diet.

NO solid food for three days and the first thing jockey Nick Hall went for last Thursday lunchtime was one piece of chicken.

His three-day fruit and vegetable juice cleanse was finally over and the dual Caulfield Cup-winning jockey couldn’t be happier after admitting to being “foggy in the brain” towards the end of the program.

The system clean-out is not the norm for Hall but he doesn’t want to take any shortcuts in pursuit of his Melbourne Cup dream aboard second-favourite Jameka.

Hall gets the aches and pains out with a dip in Port Phillip Bay

He’s in the race right up to his diminishing waistline which helps make the sacrifices all the more worthwhile.

“I’ve done a lot of cleanses over the years because I’ve tried a few different ones and now it’s not so bad because I’m pretty clean,” Hall said.

“I used to crave (salt and sugar) those things, I think hunger’s — most people’s hunger is actually craving — you’re not actually hungry.”

Pick a winner

CLICK HERE

Hall effectively lives on protein and vegetables.

Breakfast usually revolves around eggs, spinach and a cup of “Bulletproof coffee” an energising drink made from coffee, butter and oil.

Lunch might be a juice if anything at all, while organic and grass-fed meats and fish with salad covers off most dinners.

Jockey Nick Hall who will ride Jameka in the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Hall, who is dairy and gluten free by choice, also indulges in organic and herbal supplements, vitamins and a new concoction to help settle his stomach.

“Going down this wellbeing and health (journey) my guts have become pretty sensitive and they’ve been upsetting me,” Hall said.

“We often ignore our bodies when we’re just eating whatever, it sort of goes a bit numb to it all, but I’m getting pretty sensitive and body aware and those (energy) gels have been upsetting my guts.

Nicholas Hall reacts as Jameka wins the Caulfield Cup. Picture: Getty Images

“(My herbalist) has come up with something which is a little oil, maple syrup, bee pollen mix to take to the races to give me that quick energy before I ride so will give that a whirl and see how it goes.”

What about snacks? Green beans are his go-to when the hunger rumbles get too much.

“I’ve had a bit of a journey with it all … tried vegan for 12 months but decided I needed some red meat with what I do,” Hall said.

“It’s pretty exhausting (preparing for and riding in) those big races. It’s so draining.

“I always feel like fruit (after races), that’s what I crave.”

Originally published as Jockey Nick Hall reveals the extreme diet he follows to be ready for the Melbourne Cup