Anyone wanting to see a master craftswoman at work would do well to get along to Chepstow on Friday for the evening flat race meeting.
Hollie Doyle recently made Royal Ascot history when she became the first female jockey to ride a Group 1 winner at the world-famous fixture.
The rider, who holds the record for the most winners in a season by a female jockey, is currently joint-second with Tom Marquand in the Flat Jockeys Championship, with both having claimed 47 winners this season.
Doyle – who hails from Herefordshire – has seven more opportunities on Friday to close the gap on Williams Buick, clear at present at the top of the table with 61 winners.
Her best hope would appear to be on Kenstone in the 8.25pm, as the Adrian Wintle-trained horse was a winner last time out at Chepstow last month.
Doyle also rides Last Hoorah in the 5.09, Ventura Express (5.40), Ceilidh King (6.15), Amor De Mi Vida (6.50), Coral Reef (7.20) and Savalas (7.55).
Doyle, 26, is one of only four female jockeys to ride a winner at Royal Ascot and her win at Carlisle earlier this season means she was now ridden a winner at every single flat track in the UK, including Chepstow.
Trainer Archie Watson is a huge admirer, but he recently revealed some owners were once not so keen to have her in the saddle.
“I think Hollie is as good as anyone out there but in the early days it was hard,” said Watson.
“Some old-fashioned owners still had the mindset of wondering why they should want this little girl to ride for them.
“We lost horses as a result but I would do exactly the same again – and everybody is now clamouring for the services of my stable jockey.”
Welsh trainer David Evans has three runners at Chepstow – Cuban Breeze (4.45), Surface To Air (5.40) and Galileo Glass (8.25).
Aside from Chepstow, there are flat race meetings on Friday at Ascot, Thirsk an York, with a jumps meeting at Uttoxeter.
