In a year in which she has smashed many of the glass ceilings in racing, Hollie Doyle did it again on Wednesday with another astonishing day in the saddle.
The 24-year-old rode five winners at Kempton – equalling her own record of a nap hand of victories at a single meeting which she set at Windsor back in August 2020, becoming the first female jockey to do so.
And punters that had the extraordinary foresight to back Doyle for the five-timer would now be enjoying the rewards of a 2521/1 payout!
There was even chance for her to claim an incredible sixth win at the evening meeting, travelling well as she was aboard Chinese Whisperer, but the four-year-old would face in the final stretch and finish outside of the frame.
Nevertheless, it was another amazing day for Doyle, who in customary fashion was quick to play down her achievements.
“I’m never satisfied with what I’ve done, and I always want to achieve more and when you get on these sort of runs you always want to do better,” she said afterwards.
“I seem to do quite well here, but I’ve had some good rides here today. Charlie Appleby’s horse has got a lot of potential, and I thought if I get beat on that I’ll give up!
“It’s great as these things don’t happen very often, so you have got to make the most of them.”
It’s the continuation of a fine year for Doyle, who has enjoyed a series of personal and professional highs. She bagged a double on Champions Day, including her maiden Grade One triumph, to go with a first ever winner at Royal Ascot.
Those achievements were rewarded when Doyle was named Flat jockey of the year at the Lester’s Jockey Awards, and she was gobsmacked to finish third behind Lewis Hamilton at the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year shindig.
Unsurprisingly, Doyle’s five-timer has helped her claims to be crowned Champion Jockey in 2021, with several books slicing her odds to achieve exactly that in the wake of her Kempton heroics and an eye-catching win in the Neom Turf Cup over in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
Doyle’s 2521/1 Delight
| Time | Horse | Trainer | SP | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:45 | Dashing Roger | William Stone | 8/1 | 7th |
| 17:15 | La Roca Del Fuego | Geoffrey Deacon | 22/1 | 6th |
| 17:45 | Della Mare | Tony Carroll | 15/8 | 1st |
| 18:20 | Laos | Archie Watson | 7/2 | 1st |
| 18:50 | Highland Avenue | Charlie Appleby | 4/9 | 1st |
| 19:20 | Sir Titan | Tony Carroll | 14/1 | 1st |
| 19:50 | Madrinho | Tony Carroll | 8/1 | 1st |
| 20:20 | Chinese Whisperer | Alan King | 5/2 | 4th |
The domination of Doyle began in the 17:45 when she partnered 15/8 favourite Della Mare in a 6f dash that she won by a neck from 22/1 outsider Miracle Garden.
Laos was the next winner in what was a comfortable stroll to the line for Archie Watson’s three-year-old, and the hat-trick was completed when Charlie Appleby’s highly fancied young gun Highland Avenue trounced the field in a decent Class 2 renewal.
The 19:20 was a cracking handicap renewal with four horses all in with a big chance approaching the line, but it was Doyle aboard the 14/1 shot Sir Titan that took the tape in first.
The nap hand was completed in the very next race, with Tony Carroll’s veteran eight-year-old Madrinho reacting well to Doyle’s coaxing to outlast Phoenix Star in second.