EVERY day matters for Amy Ryan from now until the first Saturday in November when the turf campaign draws to a close.

She is locked in battle for the apprentice championship with Darren Egan, with one or two others breathing down their necks.

Victory in the title race would be huge for the North Yorkshire jockey, a former amateur champion on the Flat and now bidding to become only the second woman in Britain – after Hayley Turner – to clinch the junior professional crown.

Based at Hambleton, where her father Kevin trains one of the most powerful teams in the north, Ryan has already enjoyed a wonderful campaign and she's ridden out her claim and joined the fully fledged ranks, within which she is more than holding her own.

Tomorrow at Southwell, Ryan has a couple of winning chances on nap selection Palladius and Waking Warrior, both trained by her father.

Palladius came good in handicap company on soft ground at Beverley recently, showing a good attitude in the process. Over the same distance of five furlongs, she may be able to defy a 6lb penalty in the 32Red Casino Nursery.

Waking Warrior, who has winning form on this course, has welded together a whole sequence of creditable efforts without scoring in recent months. That said, the sprinter has been running consistently well. It would be no surprise to see him come good in the £32 Bonus At 32Red.com Handicap.

David Griffiths is beginning to make an impression in the training game and the former successful apprentice jockey has a winning opportunity with Layla’s King in the Play Golf at Southwell Golf Club Handicap.

The four-year-old was well held on his latest outing at Pontefract, but he had previously won on this course and a return to Fibresand may enable him to make a rapid return to the winning groove.

At Wolverhampton’s evening meeting, Alan Brown bids to strike while the iron is hot with Red Shadow in the elitedigitalsystems.co.uk Handicap.

The filly won in style over this course and distance last weekend and turns out again under a 6lb penalty. She looks bound to go well and she is also open to further improvement.

Tim Easterby has had a frustrating season with Little Jimmy Odsox, who has found wins hard to come by after enjoying a productive campaign last year when he scored off a mark as high as 75.

He is now down to 67 but he did not shape at all badly when sixth of 15 at Redcar last time. A previous winner over this course and distance, he goes for the first division of the Bids 5 Screen System From MRG Handicap.

North Yorkshire trainer Ann Duffield has a real soft spot for Just Lille (8.40). She will be hard to beat on a track where she has won in the past.


Racing selections

Southwell (tomorrow)
2.30 Bang Tidy, 3.00 Dewala, 3.30 Oscars Journey, 4.00 Palladius (NAP), 4.30 No Dominion, 5.00 Waking Warrior, 5.30 Layla’s King, 6.00 Tresabella.

Wolverhampton (tomorrow)
5.40 Hats Off, 6.10 Red Shadow, 6.40 Little Jimmy Odsox, 7.10 Alnoomaas, 7.40 Brazilian Clown, 8.10 Pomarine, 8.40 Just Lille, 9.10 Fortunate Bid.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Bangor and Warwick.

Today’s meetings: Kempton, Newcastle, Nottingham and Salisbury.