THE stands were empty when Rossa Ryan rode his first Royal Ascot winner in 2020 and so it meant a lot to the 22-year-old jockey from Tuam, Co Galway, to have his parents, David and Deirdre, and sister Holly there on Wednesday when he won the Royal Hunt Cup on Jimi Hendrix.

Things got even better on Thursday when he steered 150/1 shot Valiant Force to win the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes.

It was confirmation, if that were needed, that this former pony racing champion has now established himself among the top flight of professional riders in Britain. He’s now ridden 82 winners this season, putting him well on target to exceed last year’s total of 116.

Just last August the future looked uncertain for Ryan when he split from Amo Racing after only two years as their retained rider.

Ryan and his agent Steve Croft got to work and last winter Ryan rode 64 winners on the all-weather circuit, finishing third in the table and making plenty of useful contacts.

He already had a role with Ralph Beckett’s powerful yard and that has continued to blossom this year. Beckett has trained 37 winners so far this season and nobody has ridden more of them than Ryan.

It is Beckett who trains Royal Hunt Cup winner Jimi Hendrix, a horse Ryan knew well and had partnered to victory in the Spring Cup at Newbury in April.

“Jimi Hendrix has always been a ‘behind-the-bridle’ horse,” Ryan told The Irish Field this week. “He’s also a bit claustrophobic but blinkers have straightened that out a bit with him. He won the Spring Cup easily on bottomless ground and he went up 9lb for that.

Tack adjustments

“Then we went to Newmarket for a similar race but he was a bit over-exuberant there and finished mid-division. We made a few adjustments to his tack this week and it worked a treat.

“He couldn’t go with them in the early stages so I was out the back. Then we got daylight three furlongs out and he came on the bridle at just the right time. Once he got going I knew he would stay well and the result wasn’t in doubt for the final two furlongs.

“The ground at Ascot was quick, so the horse has shown his versatility. Not many horses win two big mile handicaps in the same season. He’s run well all year or there has been a genuine excuse.”

After the Hunt Cup, Beckett suggested that Ryan Moore – who finished second on stable companion Sonny Liston – had the choice of the pair. Ryan said: “Yeah, I read that but all I will say is that my agent had my name down for that ride from the start!”

Ryan says he went into Royal Ascot not expecting a winner but perhaps a few placings. So on Tuesday he was thrilled to finish third in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes aboard 50/1 shot Annaf for trainer Mick Appleby. “That’s a ride I picked up over the winter. I’ve ridden him four times now – won three and finished third in a Group 1. He has his quirks and I don’t know if will win a Group 1 but he should win something nice.”

The irony of riding Amo Racing’s first Royal Ascot winner was not lost on him either. “To be still associated with Amo Racing is a big part for me. To get Kia [Joorabchian, head of Amo Racing] his first Royal Ascot winner is redemption for Persian Force’s defeat last year.”

The European flat season is at full speed right now and, like every other rider in the weighroom, Ryan can’t say for sure where he will be in action next week. He could even ride a Derby winner next weekend but not at the Curragh.

“You have to take it day-by-day in this game. There are a couple of horses I ride pencilled in for the German Derby [Sunday, July 2nd in Hamburg] so I could end up going there.”

Plenty will be watching how this exciting young jockey’s career develops.