Doyle riding crest of a wave

Life out on the racecourse could not be going much better for James Doyle at present.

The Ashley-based jockey racked up his 1,000th winner at Newmarket’s July Course last Friday, while 24 hours later he was celebrating an impressive triumph at The Curragh on-board the William Haggas-trained Sea Of Class in the Irish Oaks.

And now the 30-year-old is preparing to feature in some more key Group 1 races over the coming days, with rides booked for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday and Wednesday’s Qatar Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

“It has been fantastic recently and there are times where you have to pinch yourself,” said Doyle.

“It has all fallen into place of late and I have got a bit of luck as well – long may it continue!

“To have all of these exciting rides like Sea Of Class that are genuine live contenders is an amazing feeling.

“She was brilliant on Saturday, everything went smoothly, it was like a dream.

“And it is nice to bring up the 1,000, but I want another 1,000 and hopefully more on top of that.”

Doyle will be reacquainted with Poet’s Word in the King George, with the pair having combined so memorably at Royal Ascot last month when winning the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes by 10 lengths from odds-on favourite Cracksman.

The five-year-old is one of two highly-fancied Sir Michael Stoute-trained contenders in the race as bookmakers find it tough to split Doyle’s ride and Crystal Ocean, who will have fellow Godolphin jockey William Buick in the saddle.

“I have never ridden in the King George, but I have a horse that has a great shout and that is very exciting,” added Doyle.

“He was very good at Royal Ascot, showed a nice turn of foot and carried it through.

“The trip should not be a problem either because he got it well in the Sheema Classic.

“Sir Michael has two great horses involved and William and I will be desperate to win.”

And the Doyle-Stoute axis will be in action again at Goodwood as Expert Eye looks to build on his Group 3 Jersey Stakes success at Royal Ascot.

The son of Acclamation has flattered to deceive in his two previous Group 1 outings, but Doyle is confident he will live up to the hype this time around.

“Without Parole is the favourite but it looks an open race,” he said.

“I thought Expert Eye was sensational at Ascot and I see no reason why he cannot repeat that.”