Hollie Doyle hoping to end Flat season in style with another big win on Ascot hero Trueshan

HOLLIE DOYLE is looking for a True-ly great end to the season.

Not that the rest of it hasn’t been memorable, for any number of reasons.

PAHollie Doyle is hoping to end the 2023 Flat season on a high[/caption]

She raised her bat after reaching a century of winners for a fifth straight year, hit the target at Royal Ascot and is closing in on £3 million in prize-money.

All of this while she had a potential BHA drugs charge – for an innocent mistake – hanging over her for the entire season.

She admitted it was a big weight off her shoulders when she had her name cleared the other week by racing chiefs.

And there’s no doubt it will be party time for her and hubby Tom Marquand if she can bag a big winner or two over the next month.

Starting today at QIPCO British Champions Day, the richest race day in the UK where she could make her bank manager very happy indeed.

It will take something pretty special to upstage Frankie Dettori this afternoon but, given her stellar book of rides, if anyone can nick the headlines it’s her.

Many will fancy her to kick the day off in style aboard her old pal Trueshan in the Long Distance Cup, a race he has dominated for the past three years.

His trainer Alan King feared his stable star had ‘gone at the game’ after a couple of lifeless runs in the spring.

But he has come roaring back to form at Doncaster and Longchamp the last twice and is at the top of his game ahead of a big clash with old rival Kyprios.

Doyle said: “He’s a special horse he’s trained by a super trainer, Alan has done an amazing job to get him back to his best. 

“I was a little worried about the ground in France last time, but he got into a beautiful rhythm. 

“My mum and dad were there in Paris and my dad hadn’t seen me ride a Group 1 winner, so it was an extra special day. 

“He is in good form at home and we know he loves Ascot, and he will get his ground.

“Kyprios is probably the one to beat but he is on a roll at the moment.”

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Then there is Nashwa, who might only have won once this year but, if anything, she has enhanced her reputation.

She was brilliant in the Falmouth Stakes back in July and has gone close in both the Juddmonte and Irish Champion since then.

The ground at Ascot is going to be a worry, but she will stay in training as a five-year-old so there will be plenty of big days ahead even if today ends in defeat.

Doyle said: “It’s special to have a filly of her calibre and it’s a brave decision by her owner to keep her going for another year after this.

“She has had another brilliant season, she gave me an amazing feel when she won the Falmouth when we dropped her back to a mile.

“It’s been frustrating that we haven’t got another big one across the line since then, and she has run very good races at York and Leopardstown.

“She has been the horse of a lifetime for me and John and Thady Gosden reckon she is in good form going into Champions Day.”

PANashwa is one of the main contenders in the QEII at Ascot on Saturday[/caption]

And it doesn’t stop at Ascot – the big rides are set to come thick and fast.

First she will jet off to California chasing a first Breeders’ Cup win on Archie Watson’s speedball on November 4 – provided she gets her recent careless riding ban reduced on appeal.

If she makes it to Santa Anita, she won’t have time to hang around before hopping on a jumbo and heading down to Oz to ride 20-1 shot Future History in the Melbourne Cup four days later.

If either of those horses oblige, she will have undoubtedly achieved international superstar status.

Doyle continued: “It’s something that is definitely on the bucket list. I’ve had a few attempts at the Breeders’ Cup so far without any luck but it’s a dream of mine.

“Every time I go to America I learn plenty from it. You realise how good the horses have to be to win any Breeders’ Cup race, it’s crazy competitive. 

“Bradsell is always a horse we’ve thought highly of, and he has shown us what he is capable of a couple of times at Royal Ascot..

“He’s so tough and he has been incredible all year – we reckon he is the perfect type for a race in America.

“I’m so lucky and blessed to be riding these horses, and it goes without saying I’m really excited about the Melbourne Cup ride. 

“It was always going to be a big ask getting a ride in a race like that.

“I will definitely make the most of the experience, but I’m by no means going over there to make up the numbers.”

A winner in LA or Melbourne? Now that truly would be a great way to see out 2023.

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