Paul Mulrennan column: York Friday preview plus Hamilton rides

Paul Mulrennan column: York Friday preview plus Hamilton rides

By Paul Mulrennan
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
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A tribute to Paul Hanagan

I was fortunate to sit next to Paul for many years when we were both riding in the north. Paul was a top-class jockey and a lovely lad.
Any jockey can only dream of having the kind of career that Paul has had. Just a normal lad from Warrington who went onto became Champion Apprentice, a dual Champion Jockey, rode many Classic and Group 1 winners, notched multiple centuries, and even recorded a remarkable double century. There isn’t anything that Paul hasn’t achieved; he has done it all.
I used to sit and soak up a lot of things from Paul. He was always approachable; anyone could ask him for advice. He was a such nice, humble guy but make no mistake, he was also fiercely competitive, but fair, out on the track. In a finish, Paul Hanagan could become an angry little man. For a lightweight jockey, he was exceptionally strong.
Paul was never in a hurry; he was always in control during a race. I know it sounds like a cliché, but he knew exactly the location of the winning post. Around the northern tracks, Paul always seemed to be in a nice rhythm, adopting a good position. You’d never see him panicking, going too fast or kicking for home too early.
I always thought Paul was one of the best around Beverley, which is such a difficult track. In fact, Beverley is the toughest of all the northern tracks to ride, but he was very good there. Sadly, after that last injury, Paul couldn’t quite get back to the peak fitness level where he needed to be or was used to being at previously. I wish Paul nothing but the best for the future, he’ll be much missed in the weighing room.

Quickthorn or Giavellotto for the Lonsdale Cup?

Quickthorn (winner), Coltrane (third), Giavellotto (fifth), and Courage Mon Ami (sixth) all recommence battle in the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup after previously locking horns at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
Obviously Quickthorn appears to offer the likeliest pace angle, and given the pick, he’s the horse that I would have chosen to ride. All bar the Ascot Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami have the ‘track craft’ at York. The quicker ground does ask a slightly different question for last year’s winner Quickthorn, so perhaps there’s a fraction more value available with Giavellotto. He finished in front of last year’s St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov when winning the Yorkshire Cup in May.

Course Record could come under threat in the Nunthorpe

Highfield Princess was back to her best in the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood but again, like Quickthorn, that was on completely different ground to what she can expect to encounter at York. However, if someone offered you the ride, it would be her that you’d pick.
Those towards the top of the market – Highfield Princess (6), Regional (7), Big Evs (8), and Bradsell (9) – are all fast horses, and interestingly are all drawn near to one another.
Big Evs is lowly weighted off 8st 3lbs, and the juvenile looks to be the pace angle, which should be perfect for Jason (Hart). Highfield Princess doesn’t have to make the running. I’m sure she’ll follow the leader, with Bradsell also close by. Given the abundance of pace on offer, there could well be a track record broken.
The Nunthorpe looks competitive, but I wouldn’t be surprised were the C&D winner Regional to go close at double-figure odds. This represents a big step up in grade, but Ed Bethell’s Territories gelding is a fast-improving horse.

The inside track on my Friday rides at Hamilton

There is a competitive seven-race card at Hamilton on Friday evening, with the feature race being the Phoenix Utilities Ltd Lanark Silver Bell (6.55pm).
I partner Geremia for Jim Goldie. He’s a course winner, he likes running there, the characteristics of the track keep him interested. I can see him running well, so I’d be disappointed if he wasn’t in the frame.
William Haggas has booked me to ride his Salisbury winner Kingfisher King (6.20pm) in the 1m3f novice. He carries a penalty for that success and has been gelded since, but his form looks solid, with the runner-up (Ibrahimovic) winning a Class 4 handicap since.
My other rides are Allegro Brillante (5.10pm), Sound of Iona (7.30pm), and One Last Hug (8.05pm).
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