Irish sprint races are much slower and more difficult to get back into than English races, according to former champion apprentice jockey Gavin Ryan.
Ryan has raced on the flat both in Ireland and England throughout his career. While he has only just turned 22, Ryan has enjoyed success on both sides of the Irish Sea.
He has enjoyed a steady stream of winners at the start of the current flat season, and is getting ready to take to the Royal Ascot this week, riding Wodao for Donnacha O'Brien, the son of Aidan O'Brien.
It will not be the first time he has ridden in the Ascot, as he did so behind closed doors last year, however it will be Ryan's first time riding out on the famous track with a packed weigh room filled with International jockeys.
However, Ryan still has a good knowledge of the differences in style and pace between the Irish and English tracks.
Speaking on Friday Night Racing, the 22-year-old explained the difference as he saw them.
"In England you get a lot more racing room," Ryan said. "In Ireland, they ride very tight. If you get shuffled back it could be very hard to get a run.
"In England you seem to have a bit more racing room."
For Ryan, there is also some big differences in the technique and strategy on display between the two countries.
"They start racing a little bit further from home than Ireland," Ryan said. "In Ireland you always seem to wait until you get inside the three [furlong] for a race to unfold.
"In England, you could be building from three and a half to four [furlongs] out. That is definitely a difference."
In spite of building up much further from home, English races are run more quickly than races on the island of Ireland, according to Ryan.
"In sprint races, English sprinters will be a lot sharper out of the gate and into their stride," Ryan said. "They are probably quicker-run races over those shorter trips than here in Ireland.
"There are definitely similarities as well, but there are those few differences."
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