Josh Doyle is poised to take a big step towards clinching the Go Racing In Yorkshire Future Stars competition when he partners Poolstock for Beverley trainer Les Eyre in the seventh round of competition at Thirsk this Friday (July 31).
Doyle already has a commanding lead in the 10-race series after riding winners in the first two rounds of the series at Doncaster and Ripon and finishing second in the third round at Pontefract in April.
Since then, points have been a bit harder to collect but Doyle has kept his score moving with a couple of placed efforts and though he had to sit out the last rounds at Wetherby earlier this month, he is still very much in control.
Doyle breaks new ground on Friday when he will be riding for Eyre for the first time, but it was his success in the competition that attracted the trainer’s attention.
“Poolstock has been running well lately and he will go to Thirsk with a good chance. I have never booked Josh before, but I had seen him ride in earlier races in the series and he clearly has ability, so I went for the best available jockey!” said Eyre.
Doyle leads the competition with 54 points, ahead of Nathan Evans, 30 points, Alistair Rawlinson (21) and Mitch Godwin, Patrick O’Donnell and Callum Shepherd, all on 18,
The Go Racing In Yorkshire Future Stars competition comprises 10 rounds at all nine Yorkshire racecourses from March to November, beginning and ending at Doncaster and carries a prize worth £2,500 for the winning apprentice.
The points system is: 18 for a winner, 9 for second place, 6 for third place, 3 for fourth place, 2 for fifth place and 1 for sixth place.