Hollie Doyle is gearing up for a packed Saturday at the racecourse, and she shares the excitement in her latest exclusive blog post. Her trainer, Archie Watson, has dispatched two promising juveniles from his Lambourn yard to Thirsk for the upcoming meeting, and Doyle will be travelling north to mount them. The first of those youngsters is a two‑year‑old filly named NIEWIADOMA, a beautiful daughter of the sire Cotai Glory. She is set to make her long‑awaited debut in the British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes over 1 mile 3 furlongs (1.37).
Doyle has worked the filly several times in training and is thrilled with what she has seen. The £40,000 yearling possesses a natural turn of foot and a sunny disposition, qualities that bode well for a first run at a new track.
Her five opponents are also newcomers to the course, making the race an even playing field. Among them is Karl Burke’s Blue Point‑bred daughter, Bai Tong, who fetched a relatively high price of 125,000 guineas at auction.
All six fillies will be learning the ropes together, which adds an extra layer of intrigue to the contest. The second horse Doyle will be riding is MERLIER, a sprinter who has shown steady improvement on all‑weather surfaces.
He will contest the Stirrup Bar For Deli‑Style Dining Packages Handicap over 5 furlongs and 7 yards (5.07). MERLIER previously won a five‑furlong maiden at Newcastle for jockey Luke Morris and then followed up with a penalty win at Wolverhampton, earning an opening rating of 85 – a figure that seems appropriate given his recent form.
Beyond her own rides, Doyle highlights several noteworthy stories from the racing world. At Sandown, Derby hopeful Raaheeb delivered a polished performance in a classic trial, while Opera Ballo edged out Field Of Gold in a mile showdown. In the jumps arena, trainer Dan Skelton expressed pride in his championship‑winning team, and Sky Sports Racing’s schedule features action from Doncaster, Chepstow, and Fontwell.
She also mentions a tip: Aventure is backed to upset Daryz in the Prix Ganay, and former darts stars Luke Littler and Stephen Bunting have entered racehorse ownership at Michael Owen’s stables. Returning to her own mount, Doyle notes that stepping into a handicap for the first time presents a different challenge.
MERLIER will be facing established sprinters and tackling turf for the first time, but the good ground should suit him, and she is pleased with her draw from stall five. After being eased to a career‑low rating, she expects a warm spell to bring him close in the Join Racing TV Today Handicap (3.58).
She also reflects on the gelding WARM SPELL, who has put in respectable performances for trainer Mark Loughnane after being highly tried by former trainer Roger Varian. Her husband, Tom Marquand, rode him in a listed race won by the top‑class filly Dancing Gemini as a two‑year‑old.
Recent placings over seven furlongs at Sandown and Kempton Park last autumn give WARM SPELL a solid platform for his seasonal debut over his usual distance, and a close second in his last start suggests he can still produce a strong finish when fresh. Doyle pays tribute to veteran northern trainer Wilf Storey, who was a steadfast supporter when she was an apprentice a decade ago.
She will be riding his course‑and‑distance winner IDYLLIC in the Happy 21st Birthday Lily Watkinson Handicap (4.32). IDYLLIC, a mare who captured a similar rating at the same track last summer, should relish the familiar conditions. Mark Walford, fresh from a flawless treble at Ripon, will have his new recruit SOLAR BIRICZ contest the Nick Simpson Cannot Be 60 Handicap (2.47). The gelding, a five‑furlong handicap winner at Doncaster last summer for Brian Ellison, steps up to six furlongs for the first time, offering Walford and his team a valuable learning opportunity.
Looking ahead to the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, Doyle hopes that trainer Eve Johnson Houghton and jockey Charlie Bishop can keep their classic ambitions alive with Betfred 2000 Guineas hopeful ZAVATERI. The colt, a son of Without Parole, capped a glittering juvenile campaign with a Group 1 victory in the National Stakes in Ireland.
Although he appeared slightly uncomfortable on the undulating Newmarket track in his Dewhurst start, his rival Oxagon, who finished just behind, confirmed the form by winning the Craven Stakes. She also mentions Albert Einstein, who disappointed in a listed race at the Curragh three weeks ago, but notes that Aidan O'Brien has entered him again over seven furlongs, hinting at a possible sprint campaign this summer. The Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes (1.25) at Newbury – better known as the Fred Darling – promises an open renewal, with several fillies offering comparable prospects. Doyle believes Shadwell’s TOULEEN, who underperformed in the Rockfel last autumn, has improved and could be a serious contender in this traditional classic trial – a race she herself won on a 33‑to‑1 outsider, Duty First, twelve months ago.
Returning to a flatter surface where she debuted, Owen Burrows’ filly should perform well, though she may face stiff competition from Richard and Peter Fahey’s Catching The Moon, a proven performer at Ayr with Ryan Moore aboard. Young trainer Jack Channon could achieve a notable double if his URBAN LION adds the Win Unique Experiences at OLBG Prizes Spring Cup Handicap (3.10) at Newbury to its Lincoln victory. Doyle also highlights a narrow win by Rogue Diplomat on Town Moor, suggesting the horse still has room for improvement and could provide Eddie Greatrex with another notable success.
She expects Simon and Ed Crisford’s Shout to improve on its Doncaster effort, especially with champion jockey Oisin Murphy in the saddle. Finally, she looks forward to seeing veteran Al AASY contest the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (John Porter) (2.35) for Tom Marquand and trainer William Haggas.
The nine‑year‑old is a fan favourite at the track and could keep Karl Burke’s likely favourite Convergent on his toes. All of these insights were shared by Hollie Doyle during her conversation with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.