As described by RUK presenter Lydia Hislop, SAINT IRENE won the ladies race today at Salisbury  (a first career win for the horse at the 13th time of asking) “in the hands of this decent amateur rider Alice Mills”, the horse enjoying a career best performance.  Many congratulations to Alice.

We are sorry to announce that the Greatwood charity race which has taken place on the Sunday of Cheltenham’s November Open Meeting for the past 3 years will not be repeated.

Two of our lady jockeys, Siobhan Doolan and Harriet Bethell, had an eye on the clock at Stratford this afternoon with rides also booked at Kempton later in the evening.  Stratford’s hurdle race was not without incident, with Siobhan unseated at the first hurdle and Nico de Boinville also parting company with his mount at the last flight, leaving Matt Barber alone in front to win for Tim Vaughan with LOUIS LUDWIG.

Siobhan gained swift compensation in the ladies race at Kempton later by snatching victory by 3/4 of a length on ST IGNATIUS for Alan Bailey in a driving finish from Michelle Mullineaux on SIR BOSS.

Will all amateur jockeys please note that the Ladies Race taking place at Kempton on Thursday 30th August will count towards the Ladies Flat Turf Championship even though it is being held on the All Weather surface.  This is because the All Weather Championship is a mixed series and gentleman jockeys cannot ride in the Kempton race.  This is therefore the fairest answer rather than the win not counting towards any championship.

By the same token, please also note that the win of Alice Mills at Lingfield on 3rd May on INSTRUCTRESS (with Katie Margarson 2nd and Hayley Moore 3rd) was inadvertently added to the All-Weather Championship tables but this table will be corrected and Alice’s win will now be included within the Ladies Flat Turf Championship table.

Many congratulations to Phil Collington, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s retained Arabian racing jockey, who enjoyed his second Gentlemen’s Amateur Epsom Derby success this afternoon in fine style on David Simcock’s NO HERETIC.  By Galileo, the horse was in fact bred to win an Investec Derby and The Bordeaux Fine Wines Amateur Derby is staged over the same mile and a half distance, albeit for any horses up to a rating of 85.

Going to post 4-1 favourite, NO HERETIC needed to be bustled along but responded to Phil’s driving to forge clear of KING’S TROOP in the final furlong and score going away by 3 1/2 lengths.  A delighted Phil said “Its nice to ride such a good horse.  I won this race in 2010 for Lucinda Featherstone on MAYBE I WONT and this race is something that you always want to win.”

Losing your steering is every jockey’s nightmare but fortunately Robyn Gray was unscathed after front running FRONT RANK ran out when the rein snapped just past the stands and crashed through the running rail, unseating her.  More drama was to follow when John Barry’s saddle slipped on WHISKY GALORE and he lost an iron which hindered any challenge he could lay down to Cath Walton on URBAN KODE who headed him as they approached the winning post and held on well to score for Lucinda Russell.

Our reigning champion lady jump jockey Emma Sayer was not to be denied success, scoring in the last by a head on COOL BARANCA to win for her mother.

Many thanks to Beverley Racecourse for hosting the Lady Jane Bethell which featured two of the race’s namesake’s grand daughters, Serena Brotherton and Harriet Bethell, in the lady jockeys’ line up.

Following Kelso’s Handicap Chase on 15th February 2012, the first of 3 amateur chases utilising prize money set aside by the BHA for amateur chases following many amateur jockey successes against professionals during the 2010/11 season including Sam Waley-Cohen’s Gold Cup win, a 3 mile 0-130 chase has been agreed to take place at Sandown on Friday 7th December (Tingle Creek meeting) with a further fixture to be confirmed for 2013.

Amateur jockey licences are due for renewal annually on 1st July.  Amateur jockeys are asked to allow 2 weeks for the BHA to process all licence applications.  

The BHA Licensing Department sympathise regarding licence costs, especially in the current economic climate.  They have kindly agreed that all paperwork and medical forms can be submitted to them by 1st July annually, and that if it would be helpful to any individual amateur, the fee need not be paid until an amateur jockey’s next ride is confirmed, thereby having all paperwork in place within the BHA to assist with the speedy and efficient issuing of licences.  

Congratulations to Freddie Mitchell on winning the Carnarvon Cup at Salisbury tonight on FIRE KING in the tightest of finishes, just a nose in front of Edward Sibbick and POTENTIALE.

With Frank Windsor Clive setting the early pace, Freddie made steady headway to take up the lead over a furlong out and to win on the nod from the late challenge of POTENTIALE.