Getting consistent invites to the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) has left Hollie Doyle “pinching herself” and Britain’s top female rider has her sights firmly set on going one better than 12 months ago.

Doyle is a fan favourite in Hong Kong after multiple appearances at the IJC and it would be fair to say a win – and taking home the lion’s share of the HK$1 million bonus – would not be coming out of turn.

The 10-time Group One-winning jockey made her first appearance at the coveted competition in 2020, where she became the first female jockey to win a leg of the IJC while finishing joint third in the table.

One year later, she scooped another race victory at the event and went agonisingly close to winning it all, dead-heating with Mickael Barzalona for second place behind Zac Purton.

While in 2022 and 2023 Doyle drew blanks in terms of wins, last year’s IJC saw her pick up another leg aboard Soleil Fighter for David Hayes on her way to another joint second.

It has been a tale of near misses for the Briton, who can certainly be considered a veteran of the event.

“I’ve never won it so I’m just very grateful I’ve been given another chance. Obviously a lot of it depends on the draw and the rides you get given,” said Doyle.

“It would be a huge box tick on my CV if I could win. It’s definitely something I will keep trying to do if I keep getting invited, that’s for sure.

“Every year I get invited back I kind of have to pinch myself. I realise how lucky I am as there are some great female jockeys in the world, so for them to pick me, I’m really privileged.”

There can certainly be no complaints from Doyle in terms of the draws this year, with her widest being stall eight and her allocation including a trio of last-start winners – Yiu Cheung Victory, Thriving Brothers and Mr Desira.

“Yiu Cheung Victory actually beat me on the nod two weeks ago. He’s up in Class Four now but he’s been competitive in these waters before,” said Doyle.

“Thriving Brothers won last start over 1,400m at Sha Tin. He now comes to Happy Valley and has something to prove over the trip, but he has got a lot of good form up his sleeve.

“I think my strongest ride is Mr Desira – he’s a very lightly raced one and looks very progressive. He jumps into Class Three company with a light weight and if he can continue his progression, he’s a great chance.

“I don’t think I could have got a much stronger allocation – my two strongest rides have good draws so fingers crossed.”

Hong Kong racing can be a brutal game for those making it their short-term home, so the way Doyle has begun her seven-week contract has certainly made people stand up and take notice.

Jockeys like David Probert (zero wins from 94 rides) and Richard Kingscote (2-138) both came to the city with sterling reputations, but a dearth of chances has left both riders struggling for winners.

Doyle, who has made connections from previous visits, has smashed in four winners from 57 rides and was only narrowly denied a Group Two win when Sunlight Power was beaten half a length in the Jockey Club Mile.

“I think Hong Kong is the toughest jurisdiction I’ve ever ridden in, in terms of getting opportunities – you can’t just walk in and expect to take someone else’s rides that they’ve been grafting for,” said Doyle.

“I’ve been lucky to come to the IJC in the past and I’ve had a few winners outside of it as well, so I think I’ve probably been in a better position in that regard having come here previously.

“I’m just really grateful to have support from a range of trainers, which has been great. There’s plenty I haven’t ridden for yet so it’d be good if I could.

“I was only touched off in the Group Two the other week on Sunlight Power and I was absolutely gutted really – it would have done me good to nick a big one.”

It has been quite the culture shock for Doyle moving to Hong Kong, with the 29-year-old swapping rural Berkshire for the bright lights and skyscrapers of the city.

Doyle, who has spent her recent winters with successful stints in Japan, is no stranger to getting acclimatised elsewhere and a return to England is far from an enticing thought as she continues to pave her way abroad.

“Things happen a lot quicker here so you just have to be on the ball a lot more. It’ll feel like slow motion when I go back home compared to what I’m getting used to here – I’ve really had to sharpen up,” said Doyle.

“I adore Japan and I had a really good last two years there, but Hong Kong has always been on my radar to go to at some point and I just wanted to take the opportunity while I was wanted because nothing lasts forever.

“I’ve obviously only come for seven weeks, as I didn’t want to come for too long and be greedy. I just didn’t know how it would go so I didn’t want to be too long or too short.

“I’ve had a few winners and it’s definitely going to be hard to go back to the likes of Wolverhampton and Kempton in January, that’s for sure.”