‘You just have to laugh at it’ says Godolphin jockey as he reflects on the various sources of pressure on a jockey’s mental healthAhead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, James Doyle has spoken about the pressures that jockeys face and the importance of trying to keep a level head. While his own career has flourished in recent years, he can still remember how tough times were for him before a link with Roger Charlton and Cityscape catapulted him into the big time in 2012.“I wouldn’t say I was definitely depressed,” Doyle reflected, “but I was certainly very low at a period in my career when I was doing all the hard yards, putting in all the hours...
Jockey who quit Britain over a lack of opportunities has now won a Grade One race and could end year on a bigger highSophie Doyle is no bigger than 8-1 to achieve victory at the Breeders’ Cup, following the first Grade One success of her career on Saturday night. The 33-year-old jockey, who quit Britain in 2012 over a lack of opportunities, came from the back aboard Street Band to win the Cotillion Stakes at Parx, just outside Philadelphia, turning over a hot favourite from Chad Brown’s stable in the previously unbeaten Guarana. Related: Nicky Henderson commits Altior to taking on fellow-titan Cyrname Tips by Chris Corrigan Continue reading...
Danny Tudhope’s pick from David O’Meara’s four runners was second in last weekend’s Portland Handicap and he has winning form over track and tripThe far side and low numbers fared best in the Ayr Bronze Cup on Friday afternoon and Buffer Zone, the favourite for Saturday’s afternoon’s Gold Cup in stall 21, could be a drifter pre-race if the Silver Cup earlier on the card goes the same way.There is plenty of pace on the stands’ side, however – Major Jumbo (20) should give them a good tow – and a big showing from the favourite cannot be ruled out. Related: Talking Horses: Lyons will complete cunning plan if Buffer lifts the Cup Newbury 1.10 Cherokee Trail 1.45 Dakota Gold...
King Of Change returns to the track, 137 days after finishing runner-up in the Guineas, but where is Magna Grecia?One of many great things about the 2,000 Guineas is that it identifies the most classy young milers so we can have fun following them through the summer, right? But not this year! Neither Magna Grecia nor King Of Change, who finished first and second in the Newmarket Classic, have been seen since May.Now, 137 days after the Guineas, King Of Change will return to the track at Sandown this afternoon and we’ll get some idea as to whether his effort at 66-1 last time was a fluke or not. But the mystery of Magna Grecia remains unsolved, as Aidan O’Brien’s...
Japanese visitor is the most interesting horse around after being locked in the pocket at Leopardstown on SaturdayYou can keep your “Pinaturbo”. Star Catcher and Logician are all very fine, I suppose, if you like that sort of thing. But the horse from last weekend’s racing that I can’t wait to see next time didn’t even get a place.I won’t be alone in this. There was an enormous quantity of top-class racing on Saturday and Sunday but surely nobody failed to notice the classy animal who spent most of the Irish Champion Stakes trying to crawl over the backs of the rivals in front of her. Related: Troubled jockey Graham Gibbons jailed after fourth drink-driving conviction Redcar 2.00 Rebel Soldier...