Amateur Brodie hoping to fire her career with another strike

Royal Artillery Gold Cup | 3m | RUK

A year after the best day of her career, Brodie Hampson is hoping a repeat success in Sandown's Royal Artillery Gold Cup on Friday can propel her to bigger and better things.

Twelve months ago Hampson steered Jennys Surprise to victory in the race restricted to amateur riders who are serving or past members of the armed forces and their relatives.

The 5-4 winner ran in the colours of Brodie's father Mark, who was present on an emotional afternoon at Sandown but died of cancer in May.

Brodie, who rides last year's fifth Irish Thistle, has seen her career stall somewhat since then as her main supporter Sally Randell has joined forces with partner Fergal O'Brien, and the 22-year-old is hoping for a change of fortune.

She said on Thursday: "Last year was very emotional and probably the best day of my career. It was a very sad day, but I've the best memories I could ever be left with.

"I've gone freelance now and still get into Fergal's a couple of times a week, but mainly I'm in John O'Shea's and Neil Mulholland's. I did turn conditional for a few months, but it didn't really work out so I switched back to being an amateur and that's the long-term plan, to kick in as many winners as I can and pick up some extra rides.

"I haven't had the best of luck after Dad passed away. I managed to win on Fort George at Fakenham, which was another great day as he loved that horse and it was so nice to get another winner in his colours. Since then it's been a bit quiet, but I'm hoping it'll pick up and I normally get more rides and winners in the summer.

"Every morning I'm riding out and I love it. It'd be a dream come true to win the Royal Artillery again. I didn't think I'd get a ride, but I've been lucky enough to pick up a spin and that's brilliant. If it was a winner it'd be even better."

Trained by Dai Williams, Irish Thistle has won four times and plugged on for third in a Huntingdon handicap this month.

Hampson added: "I don't know too much about my horse – I didn't know if I'd get a ride until lunchtime today – but I had a quick look and he ran well enough in it last year."

Guy Disney, the Afghan war veteran who made history in the race two years ago by riding with a prosthetic leg below his right knee after being injured when his vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in Helmand Province in July 2009, partners Rathlin Rose, while Jody Sole, who has won two of the last four runnings, is on Cody Wyoming.