Tudhope gunning for second spot in championship race

It’s not often that top sportspeople would happily settle for finishing second, but Danny Tudhope would make an exception if he managed to crown a fine season by finishing runner-up in the Stobart Flat jockeys' title race.

While runaway leader Silvestre de Sousa appears to have gone beyond recall this year, Tudhope is as short as 6-4 favourite with the bookmakers to take second position, ahead of Ryan Moore and reigning champion Jim Crowley.

Tudhope, who moved on to the 48-winner mark at Thirsk on Tuesday night when landing the mile handicap aboard Breanski for his boss David O’Meara, said: “I guess in this particular instance it would be nice to finish second.

“Silvestre is way out in front and will be hard to beat, but I am in a nice position at the moment. It’s shaping up to be the best season of my career, so hopefully things carry on as they are and I can stay injury-free.”

Tudhope, who began the Flat turf season on a high when landing the Lincoln on Bravery, enjoyed success at Royal Ascot last month when he guided O’Meara’s eight-year-old sprinter Out Do to Wokingham glory by half a length from Steady Pace, a ride which drew universal praise. It is a moment he rates as the highlight of his campaign so far.

“It was great to ride a winner for David at Royal Ascot,” he said.

“David has plenty of horses to run, and they’re going well.

“I have sat on some nice horses this year, my agent Laura Way is doing a great job in getting me outside rides, and I’m very happy with how things are going."