Siobhan Rutledge on duty at John McConnell's during the HRI open day in 2019

Siobhan Rutledge has claim reduced with 20th winner

Almost a month after she partnered her 19th winner the important number 20 was achieved today at Navan for Siobhan Rutledge who certainly makes the most of her opportunities.

Today's win reduces her claim from seven to five pounds and is a significant milestone in the career of the young Meath woman who rode her first winner at the Meath track in September 2019.

Her 19th winner was a 33/1 shot at Dundalk and today's success was achieved on a 50/1 outsider that is trained locally, almost a stone's throw from the track at Proudstown, by Finbarr Hand for his wife.

The race, a 45-65 handicap, wouldn't exactly feature some of racing's equine elite, but nevertheless 15 hopefuls exited the stalls for the one-mile and five-furlong contest with Rutledge always prominent with her lowly-rated partner.

The well-travelled Irish-bred six-year-old filly had won first time out back in 2017 at Sandown for UK trainer Mick Channon, but was back in Ireland the following year on a journey that eventually brought her to Navan as a €3,000 purchase about a month after Rutledge had ridden her first winner.

Some 14 runs later on the flat and over hurdles for Finbarr Hand the filly headed for career start number 36 with the talented Rutledge on board for the first time.

It was fairly straightforward - Rutledge said "go" and her partner did just that winning comfortable by over four lengths.

The winning trainer was thrilled and commented to irishracing.com:

“It wasn't really a surprise because she works brilliantly all the time. She's been so disappointing that we were actually going to give up on her.

“A young girl started riding her out about two months ago, Ava. We decided to take everything off today and put Siobhan up, she's really good value for her 7lb," he added.

WATCH HER FIRST WINNER AT NAVAN

Check out an interview with Siobhan in the Meath Chronicle last year.

CHRONICLE COMMENT

I first met Siobhan Rutledge in May 2019 at a Horse Racing Ireland open day at trainer John McConnell's Rockview Stables located near Bellewstown racecourse.

In what is a tough environment for an apprentice jockey her confidence in her own ability was a trait that I noticed when she was asked the question - have you any winners to your credit - "Not yet, but that won't take too long," was her response.

Two years into her journey and she has 20 winners to her credit - probably appropriate that her first winner was named Magi Gal.