Roger Varian weighing up jockey options

The changing nature of racing means Roger Varian won't be employing a stable jockey to replace Andrea Atzeni.

The Newmarket handler will arrange his riding arrangements this season using a pool of riders as opposed to having a formal number one.

Varian has opted to go down that route following the departure of Andrea Atzeni to Qatar Racing at the end of last season.

Varian said: "The jockey scene has changed over the last few years. It is hard to implement [the use of] a stable jockey with the racing stacking up at weekends - they can only ride in one place.

"Stables can't compete with private owners offering retainers. Having a stable jockey which all the owners are happy to use is very hard to find.

"We will try and build relationships with a few jockeys this year to get a bit of regularity.

"Andrea will still ride for us, but we can't build plans around him so we will use the likes of Graham Lee and Freddie Tylicki. Quite how it plays out we will see, but we have got to make sure we are super-organised."

Meamwhile, Varian has warned that leading Betway Lincoln hope Mindurownbusiness could sidestep the race for All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Lingfield on Good Friday.

Although yet to make a decision, the Newmarket handler is contemplating keeping the four-year-old back for the one-mile championship race on April 3 as opposed to running him at Doncaster on the opening day of the turf season on March 28.

Since joining Varian, the son of Cape Cross has won two of his three starts, most recently when claiming the Ladbrokes Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton earlier this month.

Varian said: "Mindurownbusiness is in the Lincoln, but he has also qualified for the mile championship race on Good Friday at Lingfield.

"I am not committed which way he goes to be honest. If he runs in the Lincoln he would be 6lb 'well in' on paper, but he has put in two good performances on the all-weather in his last two runs and there is a temptation to stay there. Both races require consideration."

However, the Kremlin House Stables handler could have his mind made up for him as to which route he takes by the weather.

Varian said: "The ground might play a part, as he doesn't want soft ground. If it stays dry then the Lincoln is a possibility, but if the rains come next week he is unlikely to run in the Lincoln."

Mindurownbusiness is a 14/1 chance with Sky Bet for the Lincoln Handicap.