James Doyle on his Newmarket Champions Series chances

Doyle and Amazing Maria secure Royal Ascot success last month. Can they follow up in the QIPCO Falmouth? Image copyright of Racingfotos.com

British Champions Series star James Doyle couldn’t be coming into the Newmarket July Festival in better form. The Godolphin rider has kick-started the month with eight winners to edge him into the top five of the Stobart Flat Jockeys’ Championship.

Doyle looks set to add to that tally with a decent book of rides on all three days of the Festival, including in both Champions Series contests.

In the QIPCO Falmouth Stakes he partners Amazing Maria, who is bidding to follow up her Royal Ascot triumph in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

James told us about her victory: “It was a shock, she was the outsider of the field but David told me before to just go out and enjoy the race. We obviously had a game plan too and that was to take our time and David told me that she would get me home. 

“It was a shock, the way she picked up, but she was always a highly-thought-of filly, even when Ed Dunlop had her – there was a lot of hype around her and she’s a very good work horse. 

“It almost looked like a fluke when you look at the bare result, but it didn’t feel to me like a fluke – she travelled through the race smoothly and picked up in the right place to put the race to bed nicely.

“She’ll need to improve a certain amount to mix it with these, but I don’t see why she won’t. She was a very decisive winner at Royal Ascot.

On Saturday the attention switches to the speedsters in the Darley July Cup and Doyle partners Diamond Jubilee runner-up, Brazen Beau.

“He’s one of the best sprinters in the world and it’s exciting just to have him over here. It’s more exciting that I get to pick up the ride on him, though. I’m very lucky.

“I’ve sat on him three times now and he seems to be in great form. He couldn’t be in any better nick coming in to the race.

“I’m really pleased with his work.”