jockeys at royal ascot

[ganjaman2]

Ascot might look a fairly innocuous track at first glance - its straight is wide and true whilst the right-handed round course has well-positioned, gradual bends and undulations - but first impressions can be deceptive and there is little doubt that the course demands excellent skill in the saddle.
The stiff uphill climb from a mile out on the round course places a clear emphasis on stamina while the run-in of just over two furlongs means timing is crucial.

Good jockeyship and judgement of pace are therefore crucial and it will be little surprise that experience often comes to the fore. Here, we delve into the stats behind the top riders at the Royal meeting.

Top Jockeys 2006-2012

Jockey	W-R (%)	£P/L	Non-Hcp	Hcp	Round	Straight
J Murtagh	20-123 (16%)	+17	16-89	4-34	10-53	10-70
R Moore	18-181 (10%)	-73	12-124	6-57	12-85	6-96
R Hughes	14-149 (9%)	-23	12-99	2-50	3-55	11-94
J Spencer	12-120 (10%)	+21	8-78	4-42	3-50	9-70
J Fortune	10-116 (9%)	-17	7-80	3-36	5-50	5-66
L Dettori	10-166 (6%)	-78	9-116	1-50	6-72	4-94
W Buick	8-75 (11%)	+3	4-44	2-32	5-33	3-42
S Drowne	5-42 (12%)	+139	1-16	4-26	3-14	2-28
J Fanning	5-52 (10%)	+9	2-18	2-34	5-27	0-25
E Ahern	5-58 (9%)	-4	3-29	2-29	3-21	2-37
K Fallon	5-81 (6%)	-50	5-53	0-28	4-39	1-42
K Manning	4-20 (20%)	-4	4-20	--	2-7	1-13
O Peslier	4-38 (11%)	+1	4-30	0-8	2-17	2-21
T Queally	4-71 (6%)	-42	3-46	1-25	1-35	2-36
M Hills	4-71 (6%)	-16	2-39	2-32	1-21	3-50

Having gone toe-to-toe with Ryan Moore at last year's royal meeting, William Buick managed to rattle up a memorable five-timer, and in the process elevated himself up to seventh in the Royal Ascot leaderboard since 2006. Buick will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with once more for trainer John Gosden, as will the following four names, who between them amassed 64 winners during the last seven royal meetings.

JOHNNY MURTAGH
2012: 1-21
2011: 2-11
2010: 4-27
2009: 4-12
2008: 6-26

Having ridden an admirable 20 winners in seven years here, Murtagh has to be included in any punter's plans over the five days, despite leaving with just the one winner 12 months ago.
It does remain to be seen just how many rides Murtagh will receive at this year's meeting as he has been less frequent to these shores having taken a trainer's license, though should he get a chance in the big races, then he is a man to handle the pressure having returned a record of 9-29 (+£9) in Group 1 events, and served notice 12 months ago that he can still deliver when winning the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes for Sir Henry Cecil.

RYAN MOORE
2012: 5-24
2011: 3-30
2010: 4-30
2009: 3-29
2008: 3-25

Ryan Moore's record at this prestigious meeting gets better every year, and his overall level of performance in each discipline makes him a big attraction for punters. If there were any specific areas in which he has excelled, however, then attention has to be given to him over the round course where he boasts a healthier strike-rate at 12-85 (14%) compared to the straight track 6-96 (6%). Elsewhere, favourite backers would collected at 10-30 (+£10).
At the other end of the scale, it's slightly concerning that Moore has gone 36 rides in Group 1's at this meeting without success, though like buses, two may very well come along at the same time! A similar comment applies about him riding a winner at 14/1 or bigger where he stands at 0-73 since 2006, while his rides for Richard Hannon show a surprisingly poor 0-33.

RICHARD HUGHES
2012: 0-22
2011: 3-27
2010: 3-22
2009: 4-20
2008: 2-18

Last season saw a strange occurrence in that Richard Hughes left the five-day royal meeting without a winner, but he'll be keen to put that record straight in 2013 where he is currently enjoying a good battle in defending his jockey title against Ryan Moore.
A few winners at this high-profile meeting would certainly help the Irishman keep tabs on Moore, and while he blanked here for his regular trainer, Richard Hannon, 12 months ago, they have linked up for an overall record of 13-87 (+£32) since 2006.
While there are no secrets in revealing that Hughes/Hannon did well here, what may be worth noting is Hughes' superior record on the straight track (11-94) compared to around the bend (3-55). Indeed, Hughes' style paid dividends in the speedier races up to 1m (13-103), while over 1m2f his record dipped to 1-46.
The final clue to following Hughes over the five days here could be sticking to those he sat on the outing prior to Ascot, as they showed at 13-84 (+£19), against the runners in which he took over from another jockey at 1-65.

JAMIE SPENCER
2012: 0-12
2011: 2-19
2010: 0-15
2009: 2-10
2008: 1-18

Like Richard Hughes, Jamie Spencer gave his followers some roller-coaster rides here over the years, especially on the straight track where he has a real knack of judging the pace correctly and producing them late. A look at both his record on the straight (9-70, +£52) and round course (3-50, -£32) shows that Spencer is clearly effective weaving his way through on the straight, including in the juvenile events where he is 4-20 (four more placed) for an appetizing +£68 level profit.
Spencer should also be noted if booked to ride for any of the following trainers in James Fanshawe (3-13), Michael Bell (3-23), Aidan O'Brien (2-4) and Mick Channon (2-7), as he shows a collective profit of +£76.
One man who will crave Ascot winners is Frankie Dettori, as success here could put himself back in the big time for the summer ahead. There is no jockey who rides this venue better than the Italian, and it will be interesting to see the book of rides he receives.