Ripon’s Trainer Rider leaderboards show a gratifying domination by athletes from within the county to the exclusion of southern and Newmarket – based yards.
Among trainers, Tim Easterby has ruled the roost for the past five years and likely longer, in part due to sheer weight of numbers. His 133 runners towers above anyone else, indicating a man who doesn’t believe horses can show their worth standing idle in their boxes. Fifteen winners here are matched only by Beverley, roughly the same distance eastward from Great Habton as Ripon is to the west. A third of those winners came from multiple handicap scorers Poet’s Dawn (3-8) and U Sure Do (2-2).
Edward Bethell (7 from 19), Grant Tuer (6-18) and Mark Wolford (5-23) give a thoroughly Yorkshire feel to the top rank, capped by the other Easterby stable of Michael & David (5-31). Bethell in particular has enjoyed a standout year, with Group II success in Paris with Rogue Passion and a record haul of £1.3m from his 67 domestic winners.
Among the riders, Jason Hart (10-42), David Allan (7-52) and Danny Tudhope (5-22) are all well-established. Hart in particular is now a major player at all the big events, having broken the 100 barrier for the fifth consecutive season. That he is not riding bigger winners is a reflection of the scarcity of support among northern trainers among the major owner-breeders. Two years ago, only Allan was in the top five riders here.
Joanna Mason enjoyed a breakthrough season at Ripon.
A newcomer to the list this year is Joanna Mason, whose family connections ensure a good book of rides. Her 30% strike rate make her a standout performer alongside Rhys Elliott (33%) in a cadre of lady jockeys that is growing steadily year on year.
