Category: Jockey News
31-08-2015
On a rain soaked day at Epsom, there was a touch of irony with the aptly named ENGLISH SUMMER trained by Richard Fahey giving Ireland’s Champion Amateur Paddy Mullins an armchair ride for his second victory within three years in the Epsom Gentlemen’s Amateur Derby.
Patrick was happy to sit absolutely motionless aboard his horse for most of the race, only to ease past them and win by 6 lengths with the utmost of ease. After the race h said: “I thought they went a bit hard. I was a little worried as I am used to going a bumper pace, but my fellow was a very easy ride. Being by Montjeu, he loved the ground and I think my grandmother could have won on him.
It was a nice coincidence to win on a Montjeu, the day that Hurricane Fly was retired. It is a race I have marked out at the start of the year and I always try to get a ride in it. To ride on the Derby course is magic. My father never won this race, so I give him a bit of stick about that. I am one up on him there and I don’t often get that!”
Well done to Paddy and to Richard Fahey who also of course won the ladies Derby here with this horse back in July when Aly Deniel enjoyed victory by a neck!
15-08-2015
Many congratulations to reigning champion lady rider Serena Brotherton in being victor after a prolonged battle to the line this afternoon to win her 5th Newbury Ladies Derby, now sponsored by Betfred. Riding ALBERT BRIDGE for Ralph Beckett, she bided her time in following early leaders MOONED (Kathy Begley) and WHILE YOU WAIT (Page Fuller) in the rain softened ground.
The long run in from when the riders turned into the straight took its toll on most of the field but ALBERT BRIDGE managed to stay on the best to wear down the opposition and lead a furlong out, winning by 1 1/2 lengths from PIN UP (Aly Deniel) with COMPTON BIRD (Hayley Moore) the same distance back in 3rd.
Following the win, Serena said “I was pleased the rain came yesterday. Albert Bridge stays further and was a willing partner.” Well done Serena, who now joins Joanna Mason in pole position for the ladies championship, Joanna having gone one ahead on 5 wins only yesterday!
14-08-2015
Congratulations to Joanna Mason on a thrilling victory at Catterick this evening when scoring a hat-trick aboard her mother’s TAPIS LIBRE trained by her grandfather Mick Easterby. This was their third victory in a fortnight, the partnership have been successful previously at Musselburgh on 31st July and 7th August. But this was by far the most dramatic of finishes fighting it out with champion jockey Simon Walker aboard HUBERTAS, with TAPIS LIBRE having to dig deep to hang on by the smallest of margins with a photo called and the winning margin a short head!
Well done to Joanna who now goes into the lead with 5 wins in the ladies championship, one winner ahead of reigning multiple ladies champion Serena Brotherton.
14-08-2015
Many congratulations to Katy Lyons, best know for her point-to-point successes (having ridden 29 point-to-point winners), on enjoying success at Nottingham this afternoon to follow up on her recent first Flat win of her career when scoring with HIGHLIFE DANCER in the AJA Ladies Handicap over a mile and a quarter for Mick Channon.
Always handy, Highlife Dancer led from 3 furlongs home and was driven out to win by 1 3/4 lengths from Michelle Edden and FLAG OF GLORY with Hattie Heal and LAYLA’S KING a further 2 1/4 lengths back in third.. With her horse winning for an incredible 15th time, Katy said “Highlife Dancer gets a mile and a half so we were confident he would stay so I’ve gone forward. He’s so consistent.”
Trainer Mick Channon said “Going to Nottingham was a logical step. Katy gave him a super ride and it was never really in doubt and I’ve already sounded her out for a similar contest at Chepstow on Thursday. He’ll have a 6 lbs penalty to contend with but that’s probably the next step as he’s showing no signs of stopping.”
26-07-2015
David Dunsdon played a waiting game timed to perfection when winning Salisbury’s historic Carnarvon Handicap (now sponsored by Sarum Refrigeration Services) with his own PARTY ROYAL to score in a thrilling finish by a head.
Held up last of the runners until making a move 3 furlongs out, David took his horse wide to challenge inside the final furlong and lead close to the line. Many congratulations to David and to his cousin trainer Nick Gifford.
25-07-2015
Congratulations to reigning champion Serena Brotherton who increased her current lead in the ladies amateur flat championship by winning the Ascot Longines Handicap with Simon Crisford’s PERIL. Richard Fahey’s CHISWICK BEY kept on well to finish 3/4 lengths back in 2nd ridden by fellow Yorkshire lass Aly Deniel, with Michelle Mullineaux and SMOKETHATTHUNDERS 1/2 length back in 3rd.
This was Serena’s third win of the race, formerly the Ascot Diamond, and her 2nd in recent Longines sponsorship years with a 2010 success.
Trainer Simon Crisford gave all of the credit to his lady jockey and was enjoying his first success at Ascot as a trainer.
Following his victory the trainer said “Peril is a very straightforward horse. We fancied him on this ground and when he looked well drawn. We booked Serena a couple of weeks ago and she has delivered with a fantastic ride.” Well done Serena!
23-07-2015
Worcester Racecourse provided a memorable day for Jonjo O’Neill when the Worcester News Amateur Riders Handicap Hurdle was divided and saw two amateurs enjoy their first career wins. Not only were both winners trained by Jonjo O’Neill but also they completed a 4-timer for him, with the latter ridden by his son Jonjo.
The first division of 11 runners saw both eventual winner PRESENCE FELT and MIDNIGHT SEQUEL (Brodie Hampson) draw clear from the remainder in the closing stages of the race but Midnight Sequel’s mistake at the last handed the race to PRESENCE FELT, ridden out by Michael Walton, to score by a length. Trainer’s Assistant Guy Upton said “Michael is based at Jackdaws Castle and has had a few rides for us in the past, but this is his first winner and he has given the horse a great ride.”
The second division of 12 provided a much tighter finish with trainer’s son Jonjo O’Neill partnering the tricky TEMPLE LORD who idled on the run-in but managed to get up by a neck in a driving finish from Bradley Paris-Crofts and ENNISNAG. Many congratulations to all at Jackdaws Castle on a day to remember!
23-07-2015
Congratulations to Kathy Begley who partnered MOOJANED and made virtually all to enjoy her first success under Rules at Newbury this evening in the NSPCC Amateur Riders’ Handicap.
Kathy is based with David Evans and this was her first success from 11 rides. She said “I’ve been with David for 15 months and ride this fella at home. I’ve been in eventing all my life but always wanted to race-ride so I started point-to-pointing. It’s not as easy as it might seem and it’s been a steep learning curve, but I’m delighted to ride my first winner.”
David Evans said “I thought she’d gone too fast but the horse stays well. She’s done a good job.” Well done Kathy!
22-07-2015
Congratulations to Aiden Blakemore riding for his trainer Shaun Harris when winning the 3rd leg of the 8-race Betfair Novice Amateur Riders Series with course specialist BOTANIST at Leicester this evening, chasing down the front-running JEBEL TARA (Joshua Pearce) inside the final 100 yards to win by a head.
An ex-apprentice, this was Aiden’s 2nd win of his career. He said “I knew I would get the leader a long way out as Botanist loves it here. He’s quirky but he’s good. I’m based with Shaun and have been with him for about a year. Its my first winner for him and I’m really pleased that it has happened.” Well done Shaun!
The series now moves on to REDCAR on 29th July with Tim Reed, Northern Racing College BHA Jockey Coach in attendance.
18-07-2015
Many congratulations to Ireland’s victorious amateur Lisa O’Neill who joined 9 other lady jockeys at the post at Cartmel Racecourse today for the Banks Lyon Jewellers Lady Riders’ Hurdle, which played an important part of their Cumbria Crystal Cup Day.
Lisa is a jockey on fire, having recently won when representing Ireland in the Netherlands in the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (pictured below)
The generous sponsorship of Lancaster-based Banks Lyon Jewellers at Cartmel included diamonds for the winning lady jockey as well as £10,000 prize money. As a consequence the race attracted ladies from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Ultimately it was the hold up tactics of Lisa on Gordon Elliott’s TEMPO MAC that paid dividends, allowing the horse to make smooth headway tracking the leaders from 2 out to score comfortably once they turned into the final straight, winning by 8 lengths.
The winning jockey’s prize is a £5,000 diamond drop pendant set in 18 ct white gold and displaying a pair of pear cut diamonds top and tailing 5 oval cut diamonds. Managing Director Rodney Banks Lyon said “We are naturally very pleased to be able to sponsor this race, as it is a fantastic opportunity for female jockeys in a traditionally male-dominated sport, as well as an excellent draw to the area.”
Huge thanks to both Cartmel Racecourse and to Banks Lyon for providing such a great prize to encourage and support lady jump jockeys from near and far and to add so much sparkle literally to a great day’s racing.
