Paul Mulrennan - A Jockey’s Diary: Yorkshire Icon looks to be heading in right direction for Beverley tilt

The next two days see me chasing winners in South Yorkshire and the East Riding – at Doncaster and Beverley to be precise.

But I can’t help looking ahead in the calendar for July and relishing the prospect of one of the most exciting race fixtures in Yorkshire this summer – the two-day John Smith’s Cup meeting at York next Friday and Saturday.

The feature race is the 53rd John Smith’s Cup worth £150,000 in prize-money. It is a race that I would dearly love to win during my riding career. There’s always a cracking atmosphere and a big crowd on Knavesmire. It’s also great to go racing just 20 miles from home, rather than spending hours in the car as is the way of life for jockeys.

I regularly partnered Blue Spinnaker, a grand old horse trained by Mick Easterby, who won nine times in over 90 races, many of them at York where he was successful on two occasions.

He ran in the John Smith’s Cup three times between 2004 and 2006. He is a special horse for me because it was on him that I rode out my claim as an apprentice jockey.

This afternoon, I am on Town Moor before moving on to Beverley for evening racing.

I could have quite a tough time teasing out a winner today. One horse I ride who has had bags of ability is Point North (3.35pm, Doncaster).

He had winning form in 2010 and 2011, but since running in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot 13 months ago he has been out of it. This afternoon is a handicap race and I need a turnaround in his fortunes.

Tomorrow afternoon at Beverley offers me a better chance of winners. I like the prospects of Yorkshire Icon, who runs in the 1.55pm race. He is a two-year-old colt who has not yet been successful in his first four races, but he is heading in the right direction.

The horses of North Yorkshire trainer Ann Duffield are running into a bit of form and I was pleased to win on Sovereign Street at Hamilton Park for the yard earlier this week.

I think tomorrow’s race gives this juvenile, who has been second and third in his latest outings, an excellent chance to get his head in front for the first time.

Another horse with a decent opportunity tomorrow is trainer Michael Dods’s Mistress Of Rome, which goes in the 4.45pm race. I’ve ridden her in each of her four races this season when she’s won once and been placed three times. She’ll be seen to good effect in the softer underfoot conditions and I believe she has a chance.

Pitkin, in the 3.35pm race, is another of my rides tomorrow. He reeled off a sequence of three wins on the bounce last month, including two for myself.

He was fourth of nine runners last time at Carlisle as he attempted to make it a four-timer. I think we can forgive him that run and, hopefully, he’ll get back into the winner’s enclosure tomorrow.

While I have had a goodly amount of recent success when I have ventured to racecourses north of the border, I want to start winning in England again. And doing it in my home county this weekend would be great.

The next racing at York is the two-day John Smith’s Cup meeting on Friday and Saturday, July 13-14.

Friday’s fare includes the Group 3 tyregiant.com Summer Stakes, while the Saturday highlight is the £150,000 John Smith’s Cup, a race which traces its history back to 1960.

The support of the Tadcaster brewery makes Saturday’s feature event the longest running sponsorship in the world of Flat racing. Gates are open on both days from 11.15am, with the first race time on each at 2.05pm. On-day admission ranges from £5 to £24 on Friday and £7 to £35 on Saturday – with discounts for advance purchases. 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 01904 620911.

Don’t miss Paul’s exclusive column every Friday in the Yorkshire Post.