John Ingles takes a look at the sprint handicap for amateur riders at Newcastle.
King of The Jungle to benefit from rider’s experience
There are eight runners in the second division of Newcastle’s six-furlong handicap for amateur jockeys (19:15).
All bar one of the riders involved have only a handful of winners at most to their name on the Flat but the notable exception is Serena Brotherton who can boast more wins than all her rivals put together and holds the record for the most wins under Rules as a female amateur in Britain.
Brotherton will be bidding to make this her 27th consecutive year of riding winners, and at the age of 53 last season landed two of the biggest prizes for lady amateurs on Lord Melbourne at York and Terries Royale at Ascot.
Those wins came for Ralph Beckett and Mick Appleby but it has been a while since Brotherton rode a winner for the yard that has supplied her with more wins than any other, that of Mick, and latterly David, Easterby.
However, she can put that right at Newcastle on the stable’s course winner King of The Jungle.
Besides that win this time last year, King of The Jungle was also successful at Catterick and Thirsk later in 2024 and has twice gone close again in recent weeks.
On his latest outing in an apprentice handicap here on New Year’s Day over five furlongs, King of The Jungle was caught only on the line by Show Me Show Me while pulling a long way clear of the rest.
Off just a pound higher now, he’s capable of getting his head in front again.
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