Paul Mulrennan column: inside track on my Saturday rides at York

York stages the 53rd Macmillan Charity Raceday and I will be heading to the Knavesmire on Saturday for four booked rides, including a much-appreciated opportunity to sport the Godolphin Blue.

Chesspiece (3.00pm) faces five rivals in the Listed Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup Stakes, with the winner guaranteed an entry in the Ebor Handicap back here in August. Simon and Ed Crisford are acutely aware of the kind of horse needed for this contest, saddling the winner Without A Fight in 2022.

Chesspiece won a Class 3 Handicap here at the Dante Festival last May, prior to contesting the Glasgow Stakes (winner), the Gordon Stakes (runner-up), and the Noel Murless Stakes (runner-up) later in that same season, so his level of ability is unquestionable.

Gelded over the winter, he posted a highly encouraging comeback at Newbury, before struggling when upped to two miles in soft ground in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown. I’m absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to pick up a ride of this calibre for Godolphin, so we’ll see how he fares in these newly applied blinkers.

After a keenly contested curtain raiser, the Queen Mother’s Cup for Female Amateurs’, I take my opening mount aboard

Londoner

(2.25pm) for Jim Goldie and the Dundee United Director Jimmy Fyffe. The four-year-old has made three starts for us, over varying distances (5f-1m3f), since joining from Aidan O’Brien. His latest run came over this trip when 14th of 21 in Ascot’s Victoria Cup, for which he has eased a further 2lb to an official rating of 90.

The Reg Griffin Appreciation ebfstallions.com Maiden is usually stacked with quality, with the 2022 winner Cold Case going on to enjoy high-profile success at Doncaster and Redcar (Two-Year-Old Trophy) later in the season. On paper, there is much to like about Hugo Palmer’s Shamal Wind (4.10pm).

A 200,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling, he is by Dubawi, and the 11th foal from an unraced dam who hails from a smart sprinting family. He’s a half-brother to six winners, most notably the 2020 Haydock Sprint Cup, and 2021 Diamond Jubilee Stakes winner Dream Of Dreams, so hopes will be high that he himself can go onto achieve positive things on the racecourse. Obviously, this represents his first day at school, so I’ll be able to provide plenty of feedback to Hugo (Palmer) and his owner/breeder afterwards.

Last month’s Thirsk winner

Hale End

(4.45pm) tackles an extra furlong, also stepping up into a Class 4, in the Ice Co Supporting Macmillan Handicap. He has risen 4lb since that success, but the form line received a boost when his stablemate Boy Douglas (runner-up) went on to score at Ayr. Those two lock horns again here with Connor Beasley aboard Boy Douglas, while last year’s winner Mostawaa also features in a typically competitive York handicap.

We’re still a handful of days away from the start of Royal Ascot, but I’m excited to be booked for three rides there on Tuesday, either side of Carlisle (Monday), and Hamilton Park (Wednesday).

Adrian Keatley has booked me for Francisco’s Piece in the Coventry Stakes, and

Kihavah

in the Copper Horse Handicap, while I’m hoping to link up again with

Makarova

for Ed Walker in the King Charles III Stakes.

As stated last week, Francisco’s Piece has such a superb attitude, and this is the next step forward from the Prix la Fleche. Kihavah enjoyed a fine season over Flat and jumps last year, and has returned as good as ever, finishing runner-up at York last month, while Makarova, fourth in last year’s Nunthorpe Stakes, gave us all an enjoyable day when winning the Land O’Burns Fillies’ Stakes at Ayr.

Park Street

(Tina Jackson)

Tina Jackson’s Park Street posted a most satisfactory seasonal reappearance, chasing home a well-backed and favourably handicapped Billyb, at Beverley last Saturday. The stiff finish on the Westwood brings out the best in this five-year-old, so he’ll have options back there (7.5f-8.5f) during the summer in pursuit of a third course win. He was reassessed earlier this week, rising a 1lb to a new mark of 72.

An Realta Carraig

(Adrian Keatley)

An Realta Carraig, a Bungle Inthejungle colt, cost 28,000gns as a yearling, and gained valuable experience when fourth of nine on debut at Wetherby on Tuesday. Slowly away, and green throughout, he responded well to a few flicks of the whip, doing solid late work. Most ahead of him, including the winner Lesley’s Boy (Richard Fahey), had previous experience to draw upon. Adrian Keatley is enjoying a fine season with his juveniles, so this lad promises to be much wiser next time.