'150 is different class' - Doyle reaches another milestone with Lingfield winner

Hollie Doyle reached another landmark in what has been a truly extraordinary year in the saddle on Tuesday, as her success aboard Darwell Lion at Lingfield took her to 150 British winners for the year.

The Irish-trained newcomer, a first Flat winner in Britain for Ellmarie Holden, took the 7f novice, and in doing so provided Doyle with the milestone.

Doyle, who signed off by completing a double on Kendergarten Kop in a 1m2f handicap, has now ridden 35 more domestic winners than in 2019, which itself was a record year for a female rider in Britain.

Her 2020 total is all the more remarkable considering the prolonged lack of racing in the spring owing to the pandemic, plus the one-meeting-a-day restriction brought in for jockeys once racing resumed.

Watch Hollie Doyle's 150th British winner for 2020

Through the year she has registered first after first, including a maiden Group win on Dame Malliot at Newmarket in the summer and then a first Group 1 on Glen Shiel in the Sprint on British Champions Day at Ascot, when she also won the Group 2 Long Distance Cup on Trueshan.

There was also a first winner in Hong Kong at the international jockeys' challenge earlier this month, plus two winners at Deauville.

She told Sky Sports Racing: "It's great to get to 150. To get to 100 was a relief, but 150 is different class. I didn't think it would happen this year. The Group 1 on Glen Shiel on Champions Day was the biggest highlight, and hopefully it will open a few doors for the future."

Asked about how she might top it, and of her ambition to be champion jockey in 2021, Doyle replied: "I'll give it a go and try as hard as I can. Hopefully I'll be in that position one day, whether it's next year or the year after. I'll keep trying as hard as I can."

Doyle's exploits are being widely recognised outside the sport, with Sunday's third place in the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year coming hot on the heels her being crowned the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year.

Hollie Doyle with her third placed trophy during the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2020Credit: Peter Byrne/PA

After racing she was looking forward to the Lesters, held this year in the Sky Sports Racing studio due to Covid-19, where she was nominated for four separate awards. She and partner Tom Marquand are then taking a break, although their plans to go somewhere exotic are inevitably on hold.

Doyle's agent Guy Jewell could probably do with a break too, but he has others to consider including Richard Kingscote, Kieran Shoemark and brothers Eddie and Tom Greatrex.

Jewell, who has played a key role in Doyle's success, is pleased she is going to put her feet up for once.

He has been booking her rides since she was a 7lb claimer with Richard Hannon, and said: "It's been a busy year, and along with the quantity there's a lot of quality too now.

"It's easy to say now of course, but I honestly thought from the start that she would make a name for herself. The raw talent was always there, as was the work ethic. Every aspect of her riding that needed improving was attended to straight away.

"She has always strived to improve, and she still is."

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