Surviving school of hard knocks as chance of big-race glory beckons

The Betfred Ebor has been a happy hunting ground for emerging riding talents in recent years, with the last three runnings of the famous staying contest going the way of Louis Steward, Oisin Murphy and Adam McNamara. This year, Hollie Doyle is hoping her luck will be in on the Knavesmire.

Doyle is enjoying an excellent year, with her 39 winners already six more than her total for the whole of 2016, a figure made all the more impressive when taking into account the injury frustration she has endured in recent months that almost certainly scuppered a bid for the apprentice title.

On Saturday she is reunited with Scarlet Dragon as she attempts to land the biggest win of her career, and the 20-year-old could hardly be in a better place going into the York feature.