Faye McManoman

The most important relationship in her book right now is with trainer Nigel Tinkler. Across 138 races together, she has ridden 11 winners for his yard — a win rate of around 1 in every 13 rides, which is meaningfully better than her overall season average. That kind of steady, productive partnership is worth more than it looks on paper. Trainers don't keep booking jockeys out of loyalty; they book them because the horse runs better. Eleven winners from 138 races tells you Tinkler trusts her with his horses, and that she delivers often enough to keep the phone ringing.

What makes McManoman particularly interesting right now is her recent form. Over the last two weeks she has won on 2 of her 18 rides — an 11% win rate that's nearly double her season average of 6%. Jockeys talk about being "in the zone", and the numbers here back that up. When a rider is producing their best work, it tends to snowball: confidence sharpens decision-making, and trainers notice.

One detail worth flagging for anyone thinking about when to watch her: she is significantly more effective on fast, dry ground. On those conditions she has won 5 races from 43 — roughly 1 in every 9 rides, which is almost twice her usual rate. That is not a coincidence. Some jockeys simply ride differently when the ground is quick, trusting their horses to travel more fluently and timing their moves later. Whatever the reason, if the sun has been out and McManoman is in the saddle, the evidence says pay attention.