Marquand licence switch boosts Gordon title bid

Josephine Gordon's hopes of becoming the Stobart champion apprentice have been given a boost after it emerged that her main rival and last year's champion Tom Marquand will not be able to add to his tally for the final six days of the championship period because of a change to his licence.

Marquand, who rode out his claim on June 30 and is two winners ahead of Gordon in the apprentice title race, will switch to a full Flat licence on October 10. As a result, any winners ridden by the 18-year-old after that date will not count towards the apprentice title, which concludes on Champions Day on October 15.

The rules state that once an apprentice jockey has ridden out their claim, he or she is entitled to continue to ride on their apprentice licence until it expires or for a maximum of six months, whichever comes sooner.