HOLLIE Doyle is a big-name attraction on Monday as Redcar unveils a significant investment in facilities for female jockeys.
The Group 1 winning rider is always a popular visitor to Redcar and she has an attractive book of rides on the seaside’s tracks opening day of the season.
Around £600,000 has been spent by Redcar in the close season, led by smart new jockeys' facilities in the weighing room building, including new changing rooms for female riders.
The development, which also includes new racecourse offices along with medical and physio rooms, has meant a later start than usual for Redcar this year.
However, Doyle should waste no time getting off the mark on Archie Watson’s debutante, Vollering, in the opening Flat Is Back On Racing TV EBF Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes.
The Lambourn yard has already been among the winners with its juveniles and Vollering, a £58,000 Sioux Nation yearling, will be well fancied on her racecourse bow.
Doyle has picked up a couple of decent rides for Sedgefield trainer Rebecca Menzies in the following two races, starting with Battenburg Belle in the Better Value With Racecourse Bookmakers Handicap.
The filly put up a good performance in the yellow and pink Ursa Major colours at Pontefract on April 7, finishing strongly to be third of 14. That was over six furlongs and she has two furlongs further to travel at Redcar.
Doyle teams up with Menzies again with One Of Our Own in the Watch Racing TV In Stunning HD Handicap.
The mare was doing her best work at the finish when fourth at Catterick earlier this month. That was over six furlongs and the extra furlong here could suit. However preference is for Tim Easterby’s Perfidia, who consistently ran well at Redcar last year, finishing second twice. He was a promising third on his seasonal debut at Thirsk on April 10 and should go close.
Easterby’s Double Parked became a real course specialist at Redcar last season, winning three times before finishing a creditable third behind Debora’s Dream in the Marske Fabrications & Engineering Straight Mile Series Final in October.
He looks to open his account this season under the consistent David Allan in the racingtv.com Handicap. However, he faces a strong challenge from Simon and Ed Crisford’s Newmarket raider Jolly Roger who heads to Redcar on the back of three decent runs in Dubai in the early months of 2026.
Mr Colonel, a Richard Fahey-trained colt by Frankel, ran well when highly tried in the Group 3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket last October. He’s an interesting contender in the Watch Live On Racing TV Novice Stakes, aiming to earn his stripes under Shane Gray.
Only four runners go to post in the race but it looks a competitive affair, with Hollie Doyle aboard Bay of Myths for Worcestershire trainer Dr Richard Newland, who has a 2014 Grand National victory on his CV with Pineau De Re.
Bay of Myths, by French Derby winner New Bay, justified strong market support to win at Chelmsford on his debut, with Doyle in the saddle.
According To Mark, trained at Middleham by Ed Bethell, is another well bred colt by St Mark’s Basilica. He showed promise despite running green when fourth of 12 at Newcastle in November on his only outing so far.
James Doyle is another Group 1-winner jockey making the trip north to Redcar and he’s an interesting booking for David O’Meara’s course and distance winner Mafting in the penultimate Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap.
The Too Darn Hot gelding had his sole success at Redcar last May and is well treated by the handicapper.
There was only three-quarters of a length between Belling The Cat and Auspicious when they were second and third respectively at Newcastle last month. The pair clash again in the concluding Watch Race Replays At racingtv.com Handicap with the weights this time slightly favouring Auspicious, trained at Malton and ridden by the popular Faye McManoman.