Leonna Mayor is keen to build on a positive first half of the Racing League for Team Yorkshire as the competition moves to Windsor for week four on Thursday.
The former jockey turned broadcaster has managed Yorkshire in each of the past four years, with the team that sport white silks finishing sixth in 2022 and 2023 and bottom of the pile in seventh in 2024.
This year’s edition did not get off to a great start either, with Yorkshire again rooted to the foot of the league after the opening night at Yarmouth – but a winner coupled with a well-played joker on week two at Wolverhampton followed by a double at Chepstow last week has moved the team up to third place on 353 points, with The East leading the way on 395 and London and The South second with 379.
Speaking on her blog on the At The Races website, Mayor said: “After a top-drawer performance at Chepstow, my Yorkshire team is sitting in a healthy position as we enter week four of the Racing League at Windsor on Thursday evening, live on Sky Sports Racing, with an ace up our sleeves.
“We have the top two teams in The East and London and The South clearly in our sights following a double at the Welsh track.
“So, it’s all to play for by the Thames and I’m delighted to welcome top international jockey Silvestre de Sousa to the party with four rides in the white jersey. My trainers are just as delighted as I am to have him on our side at such a crucial stage of the competition.”
Team Yorkshire send out 11 runners at Windsor. Detailing some of their chances, Mayor added: “My Brazilian star (De Sousa) starts with Jane Chapple-Hyam’s lightly-raced colt Hinchinbrooke (5.30). The Cracksman colt is best judged on his two placed efforts in good maidens and could get us off to a flying start for Jane, who put us in such a strong position last week with her winner Flag Of St George.
“I’m also banking on his link-up with Jane’s handicap debutant Boxtel (6.30). He’s been gelded since going down narrowly in a good Newbury maiden last autumn after giving Wathnan Racing’s Qatar Goodwood Festival fourth Defence Minister a scare at Newmarket and has been working well lately.
“Jane runs her former Royal Ascot winner Claymore (8.00), a six-year-old who got back to winning ways at Newmarket in July and drops back in trip off what remains a workable mark of 95. He’s not an easy horse to predict as he often blows the start but Silvestre will hopefully get the best out of him, too.”
Nominating the team’s best chance of the night, she said: “Fresh from representing Britain and Ireland in last weekend’s Shergar Cup, Joanna Mason teams up with Paul Attwater on the reliable Brosay (6.30), who steps up to six furlongs with a great chance after a luckless run over the minimum trip at Goodwood.
“Jo was brilliant last week, winning on Adrian Keatley’s Roberto Caro before finishing in the frame three times and this could be our best chance.”
While there is plenty of racing to take place, Mayor is optimistic Yorkshire can sustain its title challenge until the very end, adding: “One or two big results at Windsor would leave me feeling very confident that this could be Yorkshire’s year after a series of forgettable finishes in previous seasons.
“We still have our ‘home’ fixture to come at Southwell on the final night on week six and will have some enviable ammunition to fire at Newcastle next week, too.
“Under the new rules I do have the option of drafting in new signings to strengthen our challenge but have so far chosen to stay loyal to the trainers who are doing so well for us.
“I did give myself a kick up the backside last week, however, when a horse I could have recruited won for another team, but that’s the way it works. Despite that blip I’m hoping we have enough strength in depth to emerge victorious!”
