APPRENTICE RACE GATHERS PACE

The jockeys' championship created a welcome buzz last season with the titanic battle between Richard Hughes and Paul Hanagan and this year's contest promises to be every bit as enthralling with Hanagan's crown under serious threat from Silvestre de Sousa and, possibly, a rejuvenated Kieren Fallon.

Understandably, the title race has taken the lion's share of the headlines but the race for the apprentice championship promises to be every bit as exciting.

One look at the honour's board suggests that it's well worth keeping an eye on the main protagonists as they could become future stars of the game and help us to a profit en route.

With previous winners from Lester Piggott, Joe Mercer and Pat Eddery through to Frankie Dettori, Tom Queally, Ryan Moore, Paul Hanagan and William Buick it's clear that class and ability rise to the top and the earlier the punter can identify a class act - equine or human - the greater the chance of securing some value.

The current leader is James Sullivan with Martin Harley, Kieren O'Neill and Harry Bentley hot on his heels and the contest promises to go to the wire.

James Sullivan

Native of Westmeath in Ireland whose career has blossomed since moving to Britain to join Mick Easterby; finished runner-up in the 2010 apprentice title race and making a bold bid to go one better.

Has had in excess of a hundred more rides than this challengers resulting in a modest strike rate and poor level stakes profit.

Mick Easterby and Ruth Carr have provided the bulk of his rides with Carr responsible for the majority of his winners; 16 in the calendar year as opposed to seven from Easterby.

He has ridden winners for seven other trainers, boasting a respectable 14% strike rate for Linda Stubbs whilst his 2011 record when teaming up with Edwin Tuer is four wins from nine starts.

Martin Harley

A graduate of the pony racing circuit in Ireland where he was apprenticed to Jim Bolger who is renowned for being as good a trainer of jockeys as he is of horses.

Made a bright start to his career, finding his services in great demand, and maintained that into his second season in 2008 riding the winner of the Ulster Derby.

His rise was interrupted by a serious back injury in May 2009 and a broken ankle 12 months later, however that season he did land the biggest sucess of his career in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Derby.

Now based with Mick Channon who has provided the majority of his rides and winners in the 2011 season, Harley has ridden at a very respectable 14% strike rate during the current campaign and only has a small level stakes loss.

Has enjoyed notable success at Bath (4-14), Lingfield's turf track (5-11) and Southwell (3-7) whilst he is 6-29 over nine and 10 furlongs.

Kieran O'Neill

A 2004 graduate from RACE who was apprenticed to Declan Gillespie before spending a year in the States where he rode six winners.

Joined Paul Deegan on his return and made an immediate impact in the 2009 season and maintained his progression into 2010 - a season which saw him gain a high-profile success in the Irish Lincolnshire.

With his star in the ascendancy, many were surprised by his decision to up sticks and move to Britain where he has joined the powerful Richard Hannon team for whom he rode a winner on just his third ride.

Has enjoyed plenty of support from outside yards, riding winners for 16 other trainers in 2011 - most notably Roger Charlton for whom he is four from seven whilst he is two from three for Paul Cole.

Boasts strike rates of better than one in three at Yarmouth, Ffos Las and Folkestone and shows a rare level stakes profit for his rides on turf in 2011.

Harry Bentley

Sussex-born son of an amateur jockey and trainer of point-to-pointers who is based in his home county with Gary Moore.

Made an immediate impact in 2010, finishing the year with 13 winners, earning an invitation to race in the UAE where he was based with leading trainer Satish Seemar.

His rise continued with 16 winners in his time there, including a high-profile success at the Dubai Carnival aboard Wise Venture for Alan Jarvis.

Jarvis has continued to make use of his services, providing four winners from 27 rides which, along with Ron Hodges (4-20) is the greatest number that he's ridden for an individual trainer with Moore providing just one winner in 2011 to date.

Has ridden winners for 17 different trainers this season and could benefit from the return to form of William Knight's stable with the Angmering-based trainer providing him with six winners in 2010.

His rides in five and six furlong races boast a level stakes profit of over £20 with a strike rate of around 15%.

Other contenders

With well over two months to go in the title race, it could well develop into more than a four runner race with Ryan Clark, Sean Levey, Dale Swift, Adam Beschizza, Matthew Davies and Julie Burke next on the leaderboard.

That sextet can all boast strike rates of ten per cent or more for the campaign with Clark riding at 19%.

Both Clark and Davies have proved particularly profitable to follow for punters in 2011 with Clark showing a very healthy level stakes profit.

Formerly based with Jamie Osborne, Clark has had over 200 fewer rides than championship leader Sullivan but receives plenty of patronage from Ian Williams as well as Stuart Williams to whom he is apprenticed.

He may not have the backing of a numerically strong stable but he has ridden winners for 13 different yards this year and is very much in demand.

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