Champion jockey elect Kevin Darley further tightened his grip on the title race with an 8-1 double at Redcar today which put him on the 148-winner mark for the season.
Darley, 40, was stretching his lead to 17 over nearest rival Richard Quinn in the jockey`s championship which ends at Doncaster on November 4.
His wins came on How Do I Know in the Racing Channel Gives You More EBF Median Auction Maiden Stakes and Lanesborough in the Racing Channel In Pubs And Clubs Novice Stakes.
'Obviously at this time of year winners get hard to come by,' Darley told the Racing Channel. 'But I`m getting a lot of support and it`s just great to keep knocking them in.
'I`m not taking anything for granted. Henry Cecil`s horses are flying and Richard Quinn rode 11 winners last week. I`ve got to keep on the boil and keep going until the last day and hopefully get it in the bag.'
Quinn took his tally for the campaign to 131 with a victory on Night Gypsy in the first race at Nottingham.
Night Gypsy is trained by Tim Easterby, who has supplied a host of Darley`s winners and Quinn said with a smile: 'It`s nice of Mr Easterby to support me to!'
Third-placed Pat Eddery, on 127 winners, suffered a blow to what remained of his title hopes when picking up a four-day ban at Redcar for `irresponsible riding of a minor nature` aboard Lucky Gitano, winner of the Come Home To The Racing Channel Handicap.
The suspension takes effect on November 3, 4, 6 and 7.
Darley has enjoyed big-race successes this season on Observatory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Pipalong in the Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup.
'That was a special day to win on Observatory,' he added. 'To go out and beat a horse like Giant`s Causeway who had won five consecutive Group Ones. To even have a shot at him was great but to be in the race and to go and beat him was unbelievable.
'Pipalong deserved that Group One win. She`d been knocking at the door in all the major races and she proved what a tough little filly she is. That was the pinnacle of her year.'
As soon as the Turf season finishes Darley will be heading for Australia to ride Far Cry in the Foster`s Melbourne Cup on November 7.
Martin Pipe`s stayer is set to wear a visor for the first time at Flemington on Darley`s recommendation.
'It`s just advice I`ve had in the weighing room from other jockeys who have ridden there. They do go very quick out there and although the horse doesn`t lack pace I think a visor would keep him more focused.'
