#UK RACING: Hollie Doyle rides five straight winners at Kempton

Holly Doyle
Holly Doyle

The ground-breaking rider, who claimed a rare success for Ireland's champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins less than a fortnight ago when partnering True Self to victory at Riyadh's hugely valuable Saudi Cup meeting, was back to winning ways on home soil at Wolverhampton on Monday evening, but really went through the gears at Kempton, winning five races in the middle of the card.

Doyle, who last year broke her own record for the most winners in a calendar year by a female jockey, also made history when becoming the first female jockey in the UK to ride a five-timer at Windsor last August.

She went on to win two top-class races at Ascot's British Champion Day in October including a first Group One aboard Archie Watson's Glen Shiel, and also took third place in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Kempton's midweek evening fixture may have lacked the glitz and glamour of some of Doyle's startling 2020 achievements, but there was no doubting her brilliance as she claimed five races in a row, starting with Della Mare at 15/8 and ending with stablemate 8/1 shot Madrinho, whose trainer Tony Carroll supplied three of Doyle's winners in total.

Highland Avenue (4/9 favourite) provided the highlight of night with an impressive verdict in the ‘Road To The Kentucky Derby’ Conditions Stakes for Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby.

The win five-fold paid a massive 2521/1 to the SPs.

Chances of a first ever six-timer for a female rider on a single British card looked on in the closing stages of the concluding Unibet Extra Place Offers Every Day Handicap, but Doyle's well-backed mount Chinese Whisper (5/2) was collared close home, eventually finishing a close fourth.

Doyle said: “It’s amazing. I thought I had a few good chances on paper tonight, I thought Laos would run well and he did it really nicely.

“Then I had Highland Avenue for Charlie Appleby – he’s a beautifully-bred horse and I think he has got a big future ahead of him.

“It’s great to do this so early in the year. It’s all about building on last year really – I’ll just keep trying my best and doing as well as I can.”

Doyle is currently second behind Richard Kingscote in the all-weather jockeys’ championship and she added: “I think I’ve got quite a gap to make up with Richard, but I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and see what happens.”

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *