Wednesday’s best bets, by Chris Cook
Personally, I don’t need to be persuaded that a female jockey can be as good as any male jockey. I’ve held that view for as long as I can remember thinking about the subject, so I was unmoved by Tuesday’s news of a study claiming to have found evidence that women ride as well as men.
I was more interested by how keen the British Horseracing Authority were in pushing news of this study. It seems the ruling body has realised there’s a PR windfall waiting for the first sport in which men and women compete against each other on equal terms, and good for them; that could be a very helpful facet for racing in the future.
Nick Rust, chief executive of the BHA, has gone so far as to suggest there could be a female champion jockey in the next five years. This is the point at which Nick and I must part because I can see no such prospect, regardless of my faith in female ability in the saddle. Any jockey’s career is defined to a great extent by the opportunities they get and there is next to no chance of a female jockey being given enough in the way of fancied rides to become champion under either code in the immediate future.
The race that proves this, for me, is the Derby. In the 200-odd years of our premier Classic, just three runners have been ridden by women. None of the three were fancied. Two finished last, the other finished second-last. One of the women was riding for her husband, another was riding for her father.
When the stakes are highest, trainers and owners in this country have proved again and again that they want a male jockey. Some very ordinary male jockeys have had rides in the Derby and I can think of a couple that have even won it. But Hayley Turner, who won top-class races in this country and abroad, had just one ride in the race in her whole career.
It’s great to see Josephine Gordon and Bryony Frost making an impact. Two years ago, both were unknown. Two years from now, there will hopefully be more female stars who aren’t currently on your radar. But in terms of our willingness to give women chances in the very best races, British racing is moving at a glacial pace and we will not reach equality of opportunity in my lifetime.
In unrelated news, the Gemma Tutty-ridden Jorvik Prince (4.10) has drifted out to 7-1 for the last at Chelmsford, which I find a tempting price. This four-year-old is in the form of his life, having won three in a row, including over this course and distance, before going down by a neck at Lingfield last time.
Tutty was aboard for two of those wins. When Jorvik Prince got beat last time, he was partnered by a relatively inexperienced jockey who remains winless. The winner has gone in again since. All things considered, the horse must surely go well again here.
In Leicester’s last, I like 4-1 about Chandos Belle (3.55), back down in trip after failing to stay last time and with a tongue tie fitted. She comes from the Stuart Edmunds yard that is having a good run and is on 27% with its hurdlers this season.
Head To The Stars (1.45) is also a fair price at 11-4. From the Henry Daly yard, which is flying, he’s a course and distance winner under today’s amateur jockey and produced a career peak last time.
Leicester 1.15 I’m Always Trying 1.45 Head To The Stars (nb) 2.15 Stuccodor 2.50 Enola Gay 3.25 Triple Chief 3.55 Chandos Belle
Chelmsford 1.25 Paradise Lake 1.55 My Fantasea 2.25 Highly Approved 3.00 Time To Blossom 3.35 Danzan 4.10 Jorvik Prince
Ayr 1.35 Hangard 2.05 Uncle Alastair 2.35 Cockley Beck 3.10 Knocknamona 3.45 Hills Of Dubai (nap) 4.20 Precious Cargo
Newcastle 4.05 Desert Ruler 4.40 Vale Of Kent 5.15 Working Together 5.45 How Bizarre 6.15 Windforpower 6.45 Star Cracker -
