Paul Mulrennan - A Jockey’s Diary: Back from two-day ban and aiming for a hat-trick north of the border

I was delighted to get off the mark on Knavesmire for the season last weekend with Waseem Faris’s victory for trainer Mick Channon. I hope I can add to that tally at the four-day Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival which will be in full swing in three weeks’ time.

But back to tomorrow first when it’s a double-header for me at Thirsk in the afternoon followed by evening racing at Hamilton Park. I’m very confident of some big performances from my rides at the Lanarkshire track.

Of my trio of mounts at Thirsk, my best chance would be on North Yorkshire trainer Mel Brittain’s Mayfield Girl in the 3.05pm nursery race.

The two-year-old filly will be well known to York regulars where my Weighing Room colleague Robert Winston has ridden her three times this season, including winning the five-furlong Haylin Nursery in the middle of last month.

She must have a chance tomorrow, although I’m always wary when Yorkshireman-in-exile, Newmarket trainer William Haggas, sends a horse to his home county. His representative in the race is Botanic Garden.

Mayfield Girl is the last of my rides at Thirsk. I then jump in the car to head north to Glasgow or more particularly to Hamilton Park.

Bonnie Lesley is my first mount, in the 6.15pm race. She’s stabled locally to the track with jockey-turned-trainer Keith Dalgleish, whose horses are in great nick at present.

I won on this filly as recently as Tuesday at Ayr and she could make it two victories in a week tomorrow evening.

Exactly one hour later and I’m also sweet on the chances of Sovereign Street.

After producing a series 
of consistent performances 
and a few placed runs, this four-year-old filly, trained by Ann Duffield in Yorkshire, got her head in front for me for the first time at Hamilton Park early last month.

She has since followed up that success with another at Ayr and goes for a hat-trick under The Saltire tomorrow.

In the 8.15 race, I team up again with Keith Dalgleish, this time with the five-year-old King Of Windsor.

Although he has just the sole victory from 19 starts, I rode him into second place at Ayr last Monday. He was very unlucky as the gaps just didn’t open up at the right time. If they had, I’m sure he would have added to his single win which also came at the west of Scotland track two years ago. I’m optimistic that he can one better tomorrow.

Like anyone involved in racing, my pulse is already quickening at the prospect of the Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival.

Wednesday’s 12th victory for the unbeaten Frankel, the best horse in the world, whets the appetite for a stunning four days of racing on Knavesmire between Wednesday and Saturday August 22-25.

I’ve made a mental note to let Sir Henry Cecil know that, if Tom Queally isn’t available to ride Frankel in the Juddmonte International on the Wednesday, I’m more than willing to take the leg up!

What a race is in prospect, though. Frankel faced just three rivals in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes at Goodwood this week, but with the York race’s prize fund increased to £725,000 this year and with prize-money down to sixth place I’m sure the colt will be taken on by more horses as he steps up to 10 furlongs for the first time in his career.

The racing is quite superb over all four days. I’m lucky that as a jockey I don’t have to pay to get in, but I’d be willing to!

The next racing at York is the Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival between Wednesday and Saturday, August 22-25.

The feature races are the Juddmonte International (Wednesday), the Darley Yorkshire Oaks on Ladies’ Day (Thursday), the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (Friday) and the Betfred Ebor (Saturday). On-the-day admission in the Grandstand & Paddock and County Enclosures is £28 and £53 respectively, with early bird discounts available for advance booking until 15 August.

Three-day admission ranges from £17 to £137, while four-day admission is £22 to £175. As always, accompanied under-16s are admitted free of charge to all areas.

More information can be found online at www.yorkracecourse.co.uk or by calling the racecourse on 01904 620911.