Amy Ryan, who will create history at Doncaster on Saturday when she is crowned Britain’s first woman rider to lift the apprentice championship outright, can give a reminder of her talents at Nottingham tomorrow.
The North Yorkshire rider, who is attached to her trainer-father Kevin’s Hambleton stable, teams up with Rio Sands in the second division of the Direct 365 Supporting Our Business World Handicap.
The gelding is trained by Richard Whitaker, who has provided Ryan with a whole host of mounts this season and who gave her the leg-up on her first York winner – Rio’s Rosanna – in mid-summer. Short on action this term, Rio Sands has had only one outing and he shaped well to finish second to Ivestar at Catterick last month.
If he can build on that comeback outing, Rio Sands should make a bold bid to provide Ryan with yet another winner in what has proved a memorable year for her.
Although Hayley Turner won the junior championship in 2005, she tied for the title with Saleem Golam, so Ryan’s outright victory will be a first.
Tim Easterby could have a good day at Nottingham. The Great Habton trainer runs, among others, Blue Lotus and Maven, both of whom boast solid chances.
Blue Lotus came across a useful rival in Dutch Masterpiece at Haydock last time. The juvenile can go one better in the Direct Waste Removal And Management Nursery, with Daryl Byrne claiming a valuable 5lb allowance.
Maven was a beaten favourite at York last time when tackling a mile and a half in an amateur riders’ race and her stamina seemed to let her down.
She now tackles an extended mile, which may be her absolute minimum distance, but she is a strong traveller and there is every chance that she can resume winning ways.
William Easterby, son of Tim, and the rider of Maven at York, has picked up an outside mount for Wilf Storey in the AJA Gentlemen Amateur Handicap.
Monthly Medal won a similar race here last week with something to spare. He may not be overcome by a 6lb penalty.
At Kempton’s twilight meeting, Paul Hanagan has good prospects of a double, courtesy of Twary and Viking Storm.
Trained by Roger Varian, Twary, who runs in the second division of the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing Maiden Stakes, carries the nap vote. The juvenile started out in novice company at Haydock in August and shaped very well to finish a close up third.
It is a little worrying that he has not been seen since, but he is plainly a horse of some ability and it would be no surprise to see him break his maiden here.
Hanagan rides Viking Storm for Harry Dunlop in the Betdaq Casino Games Floodlit Stakes, a Listed affair and the richest race on the card.
Viking Storm has been in cracking form, winning at Lingfield, Ascot and Doncaster. He should go well, upped once more in class.
Richard Hughes, set to inherit Hanagan’s champion jockey crown when the season draws to a close on Saturday, also has double prospects.
Richard Hannon’s number one jockey partners newcomer Atlantis City (5.25) and also Kampai (6.25), who has run creditably on his last two starts.
Racing selections
Nottingham (tomorrow)
12.10 Auntie Kathryn, 12.40 Rio Sands, 1.10 Blue Lotus, 1.40 Arabian Skies, 2.10 Muhtaris, 2.40 St Moritz, 3.15 Maven, 3.50 Monthly Medal.
Kempton (tomorrow)
4.25 La Belle Doyenne, 4.55 Inthar, 5.25 Atlantis City, 5.55 Twary (NAP), 6.25 Kampai, 6.55 Viking Storm, 7.25 Rustic Deacon, 7.55 Sir Dylan.
Tomorrow’s other meetings: Chepstow and Warwick.
Today’s meetings: Exeter, Redcar, Southwell and Wolverhampton.
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