Amy Ryan - A Jockey’s Diary: ‘Home’ is where I’m hoping the good start is at both York and Thirsk

After two misses on the opening day of the Dante Festival, I’m back on Knavesmire this afternoon with a trio of rides.

I think that I might have been excused yesterday if I had dressed as a Red Indian and started a rain dance because one of the three horses I am on board today and another two I am on tomorrow at Thirsk want some cut in the ground.

While wet conditions might not be what the many thousands of spectators at York Racecourse would wish for, I am hoping that the rain which was forecast overnight will have materialised.

It can be dry for the racing so that everyone has a lovely day though!

The Dante Festival has already been fascinating.

The victory by Liber Nauticus, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, in the Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes looks to have set up the filly nicely for a tilt at the Investec Oaks at Epsom Downs on the last day of May.

That was the first of three winners for Ryan Moore on the opening day – he’s riding brilliantly.

It was nice to see former Yorkshire Post racing columnist Paul Mulrennan having a winner too.

Today, the racing starts at 1.45pm and I will have to wait just 30 minutes before I get involved.

My mount in the Betfred Jorvik Stakes at 2.15pm is Rio’s Rosanna, trained by Richard Whitaker in West Yorkshire.

I mentioned this mare in last week’s column as I was in the saddle for her seasonal reappearance at Ripon Races last Friday.

She finished seventh of nine runners, but that race will definitely have helped her. I have won on her before at York and she likes the track, so fingers crossed for a good run.

The race after that is the feature Group 2 QIPCO Yorkshire Cup, which is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series. It looks a very competitive affair indeed.

My second ride of the afternoon is Chasing Dreams in the Ralph Raper Memorial Stakes at 3.50pm.

She is a nice three-year-old filly who has already had a couple of runs this season after finishing well last year in a nursery race at York.

I cantered her at home yesterday morning and she is in good form. She will perform better on softer conditions, so will have a better chance if we have had rain.

My last mount this afternoon is for trainer Mick Easterby in the One Marketing Communications Stakes at 4.25pm.

Barren Brook has had the benefit of a run at Redcar last month.

He’s won at York – two years ago – and I am hopeful of a good performance later today.

After putting a lot of miles on the clock last weekend, it has been a delight to remain on home territory in Yorkshire these last few days.

Luckily, that doesn’t change tomorrow either, when I take myself off to Thirsk for another trio of rides.

Jedward is in the 2.50pm race. She’s a capable horse and won at Newmarket last season. She’s in good form at home and wants soft ground.

Chooseday is in the following race at 3.25pm. He’s another horse that is seen to better effect after rain.

He ran a decent enough race eventually to finish fourth at Ripon a week ago.

Unfortunately, he missed the break after being in the stalls for a long time.

He switched off and fell asleep really. Hopefully he’ll get in and out of the stalls quicker tomorrow.

Roland, in the 5.45pm race, isn’t drawn well.

He has a wide berth. We kept him going on the all-weather over the winter, but he’s had a nice little break and we’ll be hoping that he goes well fresh.

Enjoy the last day of the Dante Festival!

Today is the final day of the 2013 Dante Festival at York Racecourse.

Find out more at yorkracecourse.co.uk or call 01904 620911. Admission costs to the racecourse range from £5 to £32.

The first race starts at 1.45pm, with gates opening at 11.15am.