Jo Mason excited for full book of rides at Carlisle's all-female jockey meeting

Jo Mason has been a regular at Carlisle's all-female jockey meeting over the years, but never before have her services been as highly sought after and she is relishing the prospect of a full book of eight rides.

Mason will be joined by the likes of Josephine Gordon, Nicola Currie and Saffie Osborne on a fixture first staged 11 years ago. Although she will ride for five different yards, her main support will again come from her grandad and uncle, Mick and David Easterby.

The decision to turn professional due to the ruling preventing amateurs from riding during the pandemic has transformed Mason's career, with an impressive 44 victories coming in 2021.

Following a double at Southwell on Friday, she is halfway towards that tally this year and is looking forward to a night when women take over the main weighing room.

"I've got a full book of rides so it's going to be a busy evening," said Mason. "I've turned professional the last two years and previously I rode as an amateur there as well and it's always a great atmosphere.

"It gives more opportunities for the girls to ride and also to ride for trainers they haven't ridden for before, so hopefully building new connections."

Mason, who rode out her claim in May, believes her best chance of a winner could come on one of her runners for the Easterby stable.

"All my rides have an each-way chance and my grandad's horses are running well," she said. "Where's Jeff (8.15) has got quite good form and was just beat on the line last time, and hopefully Fire In The Rain (4.55) can show a bit more with an uphill finish, like she did at Beverley, having found the ground on the quick side at Hamilton last time."

The fixture will be a significant one for Carlisle's new general manager Helen Willis after she replaced Molly Dingwall, who has taken up the same role at Haydock.

Prior to joining the Jockey Club, Willis worked as racing secretary to Group 1-winning trainer Bryan Smart in North Yorkshire.

Dickon White, the Jockey Club's north-west regional director, said: "Helen has been a very valued team member since joining the Jockey Club last year.

"With her experience across the group and the wider racing world, I'm sure she is exactly the right person to continue to take Carlisle forward and further build on the excellent progress made by Molly Dingwall over the past four years."

New customer offer. Place a £10 Sportsbook bet on any horseracing market between July 25-29 at minimum odds 1/5 (1.2) and get £40 in free bets on bet settlement. Valid for 30 days. Only deposits via cards will qualify (Apple Pay deposits excluded). T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.