THE usual suspects were there.

Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore - two names synonymous with all that is great in British horse racing and a duo that have collected more than a few awards between them over the past couple of decades.

It was no surprise either was nominated for the June Jockey of the Month Award.

Dettori had completed a 30-day spell which saw him win the Derby for the second time, on Golden Horn, and brought up a half century of winners at Royal Ascot. Moore, leading the Flat jockeys championship, set the Royal meeting on fire when clocking up a record nine wins for the week.

But standing proud with the pair is Malton's Sammy Jo Bell, and she more than deserves her nomination.

The 24-year-old Irish rider, who has been at Musley Bank trainer Richard Fahey's yard for the past two-and-a-half years, has hardly been out of the winner's enclosure over the past month.

On a fabulous run which has seen her soar towards to the top of the apprentice jockey championship, Bell clocked up nine winners from 22 runners in an electric 11 day spell.

She will learn her fate on Channel 4 on Saturday, with a panel of seven racing journalists judging and a £2,000 cash prize going to the winner. But she seems unconcerned about whether the decision goes her way or not.

Of more importance is that she is being mentioned in the same company in the first place.

“It’s a big surprise to be nominated and I’m delighted," Bell said. "I’ve had a great month and I’ve ridden loads of winners in the past two weeks. Richard Fahey has been brilliant to me and given me some great rides and some great opportunities.

"I am up against two pretty tough people. It is absolutely great. Just being in the same category is unreal."

Bell's rise this season has been rapid. Having posted ten winner seasons in 2013 and 2014, she already has 20 this time around and has shed her five five pound claim.

It has led many to speculate on whether she could follow Hambleton's Amy Ryan as a female winner of the champion apprentice crown and join a host of former top talent - such as Robert Winston and Paul Hanagan - to have taken the title while learning their trade under the watchful Fahey.

Bell, though, while grateful for the continuing support she receives from "the boss", isn't looking as far ahead.

"It's brilliant - really, really good," she added of her relationship with Fahey. "He is definitely a boss that, if you show ability, he will give you chances. I have had plenty of opportunities here and I have got the ball rolling. I have been getting rides and it is all going well.

"I have been here two-and-a-half years. I had ten winners last year and ten the year before which wasn't bad going. But it has just taken off. I have got 20 already this season and I have lost my five pound claim.

"I thought 20 winners would be realistic for the year, considering last year, and losing my claim means I have ridden 50 winners in my career.

"It is brilliant at the moment. I am riding with confidence and I am riding plenty of winners. I am feeling like I am on the best horse in the race and that helps a lot. When you are on a good run everything seems to happen a lot easier.

"I just want to see how far I can push, keep my head down and ride as many winners as possible. Don't get me wrong, I would love to win the apprentice championship but there is a long way to go. At the start of the year, I never thought I would be where I am now. Anything else is a bonus."

Having first sat on a horse at only two-years-old, she has formed a fine association with several of Fahey's stable stars, most notably Arctic Feeling - on whom she has won five times, including this season at Newcastle at odds of 20-1 - and Dusky Queen, who has brought her two victories in front of packed houses at York Racecourse.

Tasting the big time there, it is a stage that she is keen to stride every week and, as part of the growing number of women rising to prominence in what once was a male-dominated profession, she is keen to act as a role model to the up-and-comers - in the same way she took inspiration from the likes of Hayley Turner and Cathy Gannon.

"There are plenty of girls riding at the moment," she explained. "Every day I go racing there is always more than one female jockey at the track. We become friends as well as fellow jockeys – I’m good friends with Rachel Richardson.

"I’d love to inspire more girls to become jockeys. Just like everything in life, it is hard work – but there is no feeling like that winning feeling. That is what gets you out of bed every morning."

To see the latest Stobart Jockeys Championship standings, visit www.GreatBritishRacing.com