Hollie Doyle

HONG KONG ADVENTURE STARTS WITH BUSY DAY AT HAPPY VALLEY

My four rides at Newmarket on Saturday will effectively bring my British season to an end as I prepare to fly out to Hong Kong for two months. I’m so excited by the challenge ahead and grateful to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for giving me such a fantastic opportunity.

I’ll be based at Sha Tin with the other jockeys and will begin my contract with a good book of rides for several different trainers at Happy Valley on Wednesday - live on Sky Sports Racing.

I was hoping to achieve 100 domestic winners but seem destined to fall short, despite reaching 96 at Chelmsford on Thursday. That being said, my successes in Europe take me over the century mark, and I do have the option of riding on the All-Weather between Christmas and New Year, so I may still make it!

GRIZEDALE MY BEST CHANCE AT NEWMARKET

My best chance of a winner at Newmarket this Saturday is probably GRIZEDALE in the Dusseldorf’s Henkel 168 German Oaks Handicap (2.17).

Dan and Claire Kubler’s three-year-old ran well behind Thursday’s Southwell dead-heater Angel Hunter at Ascot on his latest start, and he should again be suited by the mile if handling the track.

I’m also hopeful of a good run from German raider STINGRAY in the Listed German Group One Racecourses James Seymour Stakes (3.25). Trained by Marcel Weiss, he won a conditions race in testing ground in France in September before being placed in a Group 3 at Dusseldorf, and he may just find the necessary improvement to make his mark here.

BREEZE IS OPEN TO IMPROVEMENT

My first ride comes on HARLEQUIN BREEZE for the excellent Jane Chapple-Hyam in the Cologne’s 64 Preis Von Europa British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes (12.32). She showed promise in a course-and-distance maiden a few weeks ago and so is open to improvement.

A little later, Charlie McBride’s gelding ONEMORENOMORE has claims in the Munich’s Allianz-Grosser Preis Von Bayern Handicap (4.00), having run well at the track before.

GODOLPHIN STAR CAN CLAIM BREEDERS‘ CUP GLORY

I’ll be glued to the television on Saturday night when the Breeders’ Cup continues at Del Mar - live on Sky Sports Racing - and I’m expecting Europe to dominate the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (11.05pm), with Godolphin’s Notable Speech spearheading a strong challenge.

Charlie Appleby’s Guineas winner ran a huge race in this last year - finishing a close third - and couldn’t be in better form after landing the Group 1 Woodbine Mile in Canada in September.

A very tractable horse who had the speed to run well in the July Cup, he brings stronger current form to the race than the talented The Lion In Winter. Aidan O’Brien is backing him up very quickly following his second in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day. He wouldn’t be doing that if he wasn’t confident of a big performance, however, and it just could be that we haven’t seen the best of him yet. He’s a strong traveller, and the turning track should play to his strengths.

I’M WITH JAPANESE STAR IN THE CLASSIC

I’d love to see Japan’s superstar Forever Young win the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (10.25pm) for Yoshito Yahagi and his excellent rider Ryusei Sakai. He’s been blessed with a good starting position in gate 5 and can build on his creditable third from another low draw last year.

This year’s Saudi Cup winner has had a great preparation for this follow-up attempt, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see him turn the tables on Chad Brown’s reigning champion Sierra Leone.

QATAR ON AGENDA FOR SPEEDY SPARTAN

Hambleton Racing have been lucky owners for me over the years and it was great to get them another high-profile victory on Spartan Arrow in the Group 3 Mercury Stakes at Dundalk last weekend.

Archie Watson’s sprinter showed so much speed to get into a challenging position from a wide draw and hold off George Scott’s talented favourite West Acre to gain his first Group success.

A Listed winner in France for me earlier in the year, he was unlucky that the ground turned against him in the Group 2 King George at Goodwood and then again in France, but he certainly enjoyed a return to a sounder surface on the All-Weather.

For a horse who cost just 17,000 guineas a year ago, this five-year-old has given his connections so much fun, and Archie and the team deserve all the credit for the way he’s progressed. Now we look forward to taking him to Qatar in the new year for another Group assignment.

DEEPLY SADDENED BY TOMMIE’S PASSING

Like all my weighing room colleagues and everyone in our industry, I’m deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of young apprentice Tommie Jakes on Thursday. 

Tommie was such a talented rider with a great career ahead of him, and my thoughts go out to all his family and friends at such a difficult time.

Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.