Isabelle Ryder(5)

The number beside her name — the (5) — is a weight allowance she carries as a claim, meaning horses she rides carry less weight than usual. It is racing's way of giving less experienced riders a leg up, and Ryder is making good use of it. Her win rate has climbed from 10% last season to 13% this year, which might sound like a small jump, but in a sport where margins are everything, improving by nearly a third in a single season is a genuine sign of progress.

Her most important relationship in the saddle is with trainer Jamie Snowden's yard. From 54 rides for Snowden, she has won 9 times — that is 1 in every 6, or 17%, which sits comfortably above her overall average. When a jockey consistently outperforms their own numbers for one particular trainer, it usually means something real: trust, communication, horses that suit her style. That partnership looks like the backbone of her career right now.

The last two weeks have been her sharpest patch of the season. One winner from 5 rides puts her at 20% across that stretch — well above her season average — and on dry ground she has matched that same 1-in-5 ratio. Neither sample is huge, but both point in the same direction: a jockey who is in form and riding with confidence. With 26 career winners already on the board and her numbers heading the right way, Ryder looks like someone to watch as the season builds.