Paul Mulrennan column: expect a big run from Mademoiselle

It wasn’t to be at York this week. I really thought Northern Express was going to go on and win the Hambleton. I couldn’t believe that the winner (Point Lynas) kept rolling. We went some gallop, so I was thinking that he must tire, he must stop, but unfortunately that didn’t happen.

The plan would be to follow a similar route to last year. He’ll have options at Royal Ascot and no doubt return to York in July to try and win the same seven-furlong handicap he won last year. For whatever reason, I can’t pinpoint why, he just loves York.

It was great to get Azure Blue back on track, and she produced a good solid run in the Duke of York. She had a good blow. Michael (Dods) has said that she has come out of the race well, so we’re all happy with her. As always, Michael will decide the next move, but I think that we could be dropping back to five furlongs for the Temple Stakes at Haydock (May 25th).

I’m back in Yorkshire on Saturday for six rides at Thirsk.

George Scott’s Mademoiselle (2.00pm) is the pick of those rides. She contested a good-quality novice at Newmarket (sixth) on Guineas weekend - a race which has already yielded a subsequent winner. I spoke to David Egan about her at York on Thursday. He said that she was a bit green there, but will know a lot more now, so we’re expecting a big run from her.

Karl Burke and Clipper Logistics had a smart juvenile winner (Andesite) at York, so with Danny Tudhope down at Newbury for Flight Plan in the Lockinge, it is nice to have the opportunity to ride Unspoken Love (2.35pm). She’s a newcomer by Soldier’s Call.

Unusually, there is a small field for the feature Class 3 sprint. Secret Guest (4.20pm) did well on the AW at Newcastle over the winter. He returns from a three-month break on a near career-high mark, while Diamondonthehill (4.54pm) needed his first run back and possibly remains high enough in the weights.

I must confess I don’t know a massive amount about Dutch Kingdom (5.30pm). From a look through the formbook, it is evident that he is a consistent AW performer. He was thereabouts at Chelmsford last time, so we’ll see how he fares back on turf for the first time since late last summer.

Lord Abama (6.02pm) completes the set. He drops into a Class 6 handicap to compete from an easing mark in first-time blinkers.

Do It Now (Adrian Keatley)

Do It Now impressed at Ripon last Friday. He made all, winning by four-and-a-half lengths, with his earlier form lines also beginning to stack up. He was runner-up to Pont Neuf on debut at Kempton, and that horse won again at Salisbury on Thursday.

I know he was beaten (second and third) on his first two starts, but things went wrong for him in those races. He has a good bit of experience now and he showed definite improvement at Ripon. Adrian (Keatley) has his horses in fine form, with Francisco’s Piece running a blinder at York earlier this week.