Rossa Ryan is gearing up for a pivotal moment in the jockeys' championship, with his two main rivals, Oisin Murphy and Billy Loughnane, set to compete at the Curragh. This race at Newbury on Saturday presents an opportunity for Ryan to make significant headway in the title race, as his rivals are both riding at the Curragh. With six rides on the Newbury card, Ryan's strategy is clear: to challenge for the championship and boost his tally of wins. However, the path to the top is fraught with challenges, and Ryan's chances are as varied as the horses he rides.
One of Ryan's rides, Midak, has a fascinating history. This horse, who ran in last year's Derby for Francis Graffard, showed promise with three wins to start his career. However, his performance took a turn at Epsom, where he finished tenth in the Classic behind Lambourn. Following this, Midak was gelded and ran once more for the Aga Khan, finishing fourth in a Listed race at Chantilly. After being sold for €300,000, Midak was sent into training with Ian Williams, but has struggled to replicate his earlier success, with four starts yielding no wins.
Another of Ryan's rides, Baileys Khelstar, is looking like one of his strongest chances. This six-year-old has won his last two races over a similar trip, and Ryan will be hoping that he can extend this winning streak. Trained by Charlie Johnston, Baileys Khelstar has been raised 3lb for his latest success and now races from a career-high mark, making him a formidable contender.
Song Of The Clyde, another of Ryan's rides, is also worth watching. This three-year-old, trained by Clive Cox, has had a successful run, finishing fourth in a Class 2 handicap at Newmarket and then landing a Listed race over today's course and distance. However, his performance at Royal Ascot, where he faded into seventh of 22 in the Commonwealth Cup, suggests that he may struggle at Group 1 level.
Wait Geordie, one of the outsiders in the 25-runner contest, is another of Ryan's rides. This horse needs a major turnaround in form after a disappointing run of results. Having made a winning debut at Bath, Wait Geordie went off favourite for the Lily Agnes Stakes at Chester but finished third. Since then, he has disappointed, finishing eighth of nine and last of seven on his two subsequent starts.
Rapid Deployment, another of Ryan's rides, finished last on debut under Ryan at Lingfield last month and has since been gelded. The first two home, Final Objective and Mrair, both went on to contest the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, where they finished seventh and eighth respectively. This suggests that Rapid Deployment may have potential, but will need to improve significantly to challenge for the top spots.
New Vega, Ryan's final ride, is another horse with potential. This horse makes her handicap debut for Simon and Ed Crisford after almost a year off the track. With just three starts as a juvenile, New Vega finished second on debut before winning by more than four lengths at Doncaster. She was then fourth in a valuable race at Deauville when last seen in August, and has been easy to back ahead of her return, drifting from 11-4 out to 13-2.
In conclusion, Rossa Ryan's chances in the jockeys' championship are as varied as the horses he rides. While some of his rides, like Baileys Khelstar and New Vega, look like strong contenders, others, like Midak and Wait Geordie, will need to improve significantly to challenge for the top spots. As Ryan gears up for the race at Newbury, he will be hoping that his strategy pays off and that he can make significant headway in the title race. However, only time will tell if he can overcome the challenges and emerge victorious.
