Paul Mulrennan column: I'm hoping Express can deliver victory

Spare rides are incredibly difficult to come by during Sky Bet Ebor Festival week, so I’m delighted to be in action at York on Thursday, where I have two booked rides, one for Michael Dods, and the other for Jim Goldie.

Northern Express (3.00pm) competes in the Clipper Handicap for the second year in a row, having been seventh last year. He has enjoyed a super season so far; winning the Thirsk Hunt Cup, being placed in the Sky Bet Hambleton and the Buckingham Palace, winning a competitive 7f Class 2 York handicap, and latterly posting a career-best when a close fourth in the Moet & Chandon International at Ascot.

He has a good draw (stall 6), and I don’t envisage returning to a mile being an issue. There should be plenty of pace on, which is basically what he needs, a proper good gallop. It is a fiercely competitive race – Charlie Johnston saddles five runners, David O’Meara four – but he does like York which will stand him in good stead. Seven furlongs is probably his best trip, but he ran a fine race at Ascot where they didn’t go fast enough. He goes there with every chance.

Rock Melody (5.20pm) tackles the concluding British EBF 40th Anniversary Fillies’ Handicap for Summerstorm Bloodstock Ltd. She has done well since joining Jim [Goldie], with the highlight being her back-to-back summer Musselburgh wins. Her past two runs were solid, firstly, when placed in the Scottish Stewards’ Cup at Hamilton and secondly, when coming from off the pace to not be beaten all that far in a hot race at Ascot.

Although she has been running exclusively over sprint distances this year, she has won over seven furlongs for her previous trainer. York, a fast track where they will go a gallop, should suit her. She has a nice draw (stall 4), and while I’ll just be taking my time on her, I can see her running a big race at a big price.

The Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks features a rematch between Savethelastdance and Bluestocking.

Ryan Moore gave Savethelastdance an excellent ride in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks, but it is worth noting that she’s only ever won on soft or heavy ground. It will be a completely different ball game at York on fast ground. She stays well though, so no doubt Ryan will be eager to give her plenty of space and get her rolling early in the home straight.

Bluestocking appeared to have the Irish Oaks in safe keeping until reeled in late and could prove much better suited by these quick underfoot conditions. She has been beaten by an Aidan O’Brien-trained runner on all three starts this season, including twice by Warm Heart. It wouldn’t be a major surprise though were she to be successful.

Al Husn seeks a four-timer after scaling new heights in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, but we’ll have to wait and she how she copes on her first attempt over 1m 4f, while Free Wind (the Middleton Stakes winner) has been a little flat on her last two starts, admittedly on very testing ground at Goodwood last time.

Relief Rally (second), Beautiful Diamond (third), and Flora Of Bermuda (sixth) clashed previously in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. Relief Rally and Flora Of Bermuda have one on to win since, the former in the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury, and the latter impressively in the Alice Keppel Fillies’ Conditions Stakes at Goodwood.

However, I like the chance of the Nottingham debut winner Beautiful Diamond. Karl Burke’s Twilight Son filly looks to be overpriced in comparison to those rivals. Her pedigree would suggest that she’ll be suited by stepping up to six furlongs and she arrives fresh from a two-month break.