Ryan Mania is in the best winning run of his long career and has paid tribute to his team of trainers and staff. The 34-year-old has had a few days to reflect on his red-hot form and modestly said, “It’s all down to the trainers and staff for making sure the horses were in the form and allowing me to do my job.”
The Scottish National Hunt jockey from Galashiels in the Scottish Borders has ridden nine winners in his last nine completed hurdle and chase races since winning on Carcaci Castle at Kelso on December 29 and has ten wins in 24 races since Boxing Day. This excellent run makes him one of the most in-form riders in the sport.
Mania has been able to take a few days to reflect on his fine form, with no jump racing until Saturday in the north, but he will be back in action at Newcastle at the weekend.
Speaking on Wednesday, Mania said: “”It’s great as I’ve never had a run of winners like it before, so that’s brilliant. But it’s all down to the trainers and staff for making sure the horses were in form and allowing me to do my job.
“The horses are obviously well and running in the right races. Jockeys generally don’t ride any day different from the rest, and if we’re riding a lot of winners, it’s because the horses are running well.”
It’s Mania’s second stint as a jockey, having initially retired in November 2014, citing problems keeping his weight down. He stepped down a year after he shocked the racing world by winning the greatest prize in British racing, the Grand National, aboard Auroras Encore, while priced at 66-1, . The win was made all the more impressive as the field contained Seabass ridden by Katie Walsh, who started the race at 11-2 favourite.
Mania decided to return to racing in October 2019, primarily for Sandy Thomson, who he had worked for as his assistant after retiring. Thomson, who is Mania’s stepfather-in-law, has provided the horses for eight of Mania’s last ten winners.
Ryan Mania’s remarkable recent record
- Musselburgh, Jan 3 – won at 11-4 with Massini Man
- Ayr, Jan 2 – won at 6-5 with Storm Nelson
- Ayr Jan 2 – won at 100-30 with Donna’s Double
- Ayr Jan 2 – fell (The Jad Factor)
- Musselburgh Jan 1 – won at 2-1 with Benson
- Musselburgh Jan 1 – won at 25-1 with Large Action
- Musselburgh Jan 1 – pulled up (Wonderoftheworld)
- Musselburgh Jan 1 – won at 13-8 with Bringbackmemories
- Uttoxeter December 31 – won at 5-1 with Bak Rocky
- Haydock Dec 30 – pulled up (Sirwilliamwallace)
- Haydock Dec 30 – won at 2-1 with War Soldier
- Kelso Dec 29 – won at 7-4 with Carcaci Castle
Speaking about his chances of extending his excellent run, Mania said: “I’ll be back at Newcastle on Saturday. I might only have one and don’t really know for sure what’s going on. January is pretty quiet, and even if there’s racing on, we don’t have a lot of horses left to run because they’ve all been very busy.
“There’s loads of potential in everything I’ve ridden over the festive period, and it’s quite exciting.
“There were some good performances, including from Carcaci Castle and War Soldier, who are really nice novice hurdlers, along with Blue Baloo, who won a bumper and might end up over hurdles towards the end of the season. They’re nice horses who hopefully have bright futures.”
