Michael Dods' string are in good order and he produced Avondale Girl at the top of her form yesterday to gain a timely success in the Okeld Handicap for lady amateur riders at Thirsk. Avondale Girl is owned by jockey Fergal Lynch's father Charlie who flew in to see her take her chance in the hands of his son's long-term girlfriend Emma Ramsden. Miss Ramsden, who rode a winner at Chantilly on Sunday, is leading lady amateur with five winners in Britain this season and it showed as she rode out Avondale Girl in good style to beat EB Pearl by one and three-quarter lengths.
This was Dods' fifth success in less than three weeks and he explained: "Our horses went off form six weeks ago so I just left them alone to come back on their own. I thought that only the 11st 7lb would beat her as she is not very big, but she is a tough little filly. Emma gave her a brilliant ride and it turned out to be a real family affair."
John Carroll took the overall riding honours with a double on Mirbeck who won the World of James Herriot Maiden Stakes despite drifting from 11 to 10 to 7 to 4 and Natsmagirl, who was retained without a bid after taking the seller.
Natsmagirl was continuing a change of fortune for trainer Martyn Wane who said: "My gallops are right next to a field of oilseed rape and the pollen has been adversely affecting the horses.
