Paul Hanagan: I’m hoping Cotton Grass will take all the beating at Hamilton

After riding at Haydock Park this afternoon, I head north up the M6 for evening racing at Hamilton Park. Tomorrow, it’s Newbury in the afternoon followed by Haydock Park again.

I think that my best chances of winners come at Hamilton later today.

Tahitian Princess has yet to win a race but will be a leading fancy in the seller at 7.15pm. I think the main opposition to her will come from trainer Linda Perratt’s Weetentherty.

French Hollow won the Global Trading UK Responsible Packaging Stakes under jockey Freddie Tylicki at York just a week ago and must have a good opportunity to follow up with another victory. He runs in the handicap race at 8.20pm.

Half-an-hour later, trainer Mark Tompkins’s Cotton Grass is probably my best prospect of the evening. She will take all the beating in what does not look like a strong race at all.

In the finale, Abdicate would have a decent chance, too. She won well for me at Ripon but she found a few horses too good for her at Newbury. Tonight’s 9.20pm race is more her level.

Lily’s Angel is my ride in Saturday afternoon’s Weatherbys Super Sprint at 3.30pm.

I missed the ride on her at Royal Ascot because of the injury that I sustained that week. She is the reason that I’m heading south before Haydock’s evening fixture.

I think I’d quite fancy her were the race over six furlongs. But she does tend to miss the break from the stalls and, over the minimum trip, that might be an issue.

Then I’m back in the car and off to Haydock Park where I ride in all six races tomorrow evening.

I’m picking up some rides from Godolphin now which is nice. Although the two-year-old is only making his debut in the maiden race at 7.10pm, I’m told that the yard like my mount, Pembrey.

The Michael Bell-trained Advisor was only fifth at Sandown Park last month, but I think that the track at Haydock Park will suit the horse more than the Esher racecourse. He goes in the handicap race at 8.10pm.

It is not often that jumps trainer Venetia Williams’s horses are seen racing on the Flat, so the chances of Nobunaga should be respected in the penultimate race at 8.40pm.

Saturday is a music night at Haydock Park which will draw in the crowds – and that’s the case, too, at York next Friday evening and on Saturday with Blondie and Scouting for Girls. The racing is excellent, too!

Although it is a shade early for firm racing plans, I think I will be riding on Knavesmire during the climax to the Yorkshire Racing Summer Festival.

The feature event on Friday evening is the European Breeders’ Fund Authorized Lyric Stakes, a Listed race for fillies.

On the Saturday, the £100,000 Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes is the highest class attraction on the track, a race that I came close to winning on Allied Powers two years ago when we almost upset a hot favourite.

The big betting race a week tomorrow is the £50,000 Sky Bet Dash over six furlongs.

It’s a race that the Richard Fahey yard has won a couple of times in recent years.

On each occasion I’ve been on the wrong horse from the stable! I’ll be hoping to choose better next weekend.

Evening racing and live music come to Knavesmire, with Blondie performing on Friday evening, July 22 and Scouting for Girls on stage on Saturday, July 23 after the Group 2 £100,000 Sky Bet York Stakes.

Friday is the only evening racing of the year at York Racecourse. On-the-day admission is from £8 to £34, with discounts for groups of six or more that are booked in advance.

The Music Showcase Weekend is proving very popular so advance booking is recommended.

Further details can be found on www.yorkracecourse.co.uk or by calling 01904 620911.