Paul Mulrennan: my rides at York on Friday and much more

I’m back at York on Friday for three rides. I thought Euchen Glen (1.50pm) ran a super race in the Coral Summer Handicap at Goodwood. Rossa [Ryan] said that if they’d have gone any kind of gallop, he’d have nearly won. I thought he gave him a lovely ride there.

Euchen Glen is a star of a horse, who is still showing a good level of ability, even though he is 11. It isn’t the Ebor this year – he has contested the last four – but I’m delighted to be back aboard. I love that horse. He loves York, and the track there was in superb condition on Wednesday.

I sat on Azure Blue (3.35pm) last Saturday, and she’s fresh and well prior to her tilt at the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes. Michael [Dods] has a fine record in this race, courtesy of Mecca’s Angel and Que Amoro, and she’s a mare who likes York. I’m drawn in stall 6 which is ideal, with last year’s winner Live In The Dream likely to give me a tow into the race.

Michael has always had the Nunthorpe in the back of his mind. She has enjoyed a couple of months off since dead-heating in the Land O’Burns Stakes at Ayr, which was her first attempt over five furlongs. The ground conditions weren’t in her favour at Haydock prior to that.

The Convivial Maiden Stakes is one of the strongest races of its type in the calendar, with a number of these going for 500,000gns plus at the breeze-ups. However, I’m looking forward to linking up with the Easterby’s for the ride on Lever Up (4.45pm).

He is the first foal from an unraced dam, who was a half-sister to the Group-placed 5f-7f winner Existent. He’s a horse they like, so it will be nice to get him started off at York.

Jordan Electrics ran tremendously well when narrowly beaten by Jm Jungle in the Symphony Group Handicap at York. I was drawn well, next to the winner, and I got a nice tow along with the tailwind. We were going quick, but he travelled well, and then really stuck his head down that last half furlong. He’s a star of a horse! The Portland (Doncaster) would be the obvious next target, and then maybe the Ayr Gold Cup.

He’s progressed rapidly this year, and I can only pinpoint Jim Goldie for being the reason why. It is all there in black and white. He excels with these late-maturing horses, constantly getting the best out of them whatever the level; Euchen Glen, Be Proud, Braes Of Doune, Bontio Cavalo.

Jordan Electrics has a 22 per cent win rate (16-73), and has been placed a further 14 times, making that a most impressive 41 per cent win or place strike-rate. I’ve never finished out of the money on him, winning seven times from 11 rides. I was gutted to be stuck in traffic on the afternoon he won at Hamilton for William Buick.

The prize money on offer at York this week is unbelievable, with Jordan Electrics banking nearly £30,000. That one run, and he didn’t even win, has paid all his costs for the year. Things like that make all the difference when an owner is deciding whether to go in and invest again, be it a yearling or a horse already in training. York is on another level.

I stuck around simply to see Los Angeles and City Of Troy. There was a great crowd and a fantastic buzz around the racecourse. Ryan [Moore]  gave City Of Troy the best ride in the Juddmonte International. Being in front and staying over the far side guaranteed that he wasn’t going to meet any traffic problems.

When Stephan Pasquier got out and got himself organised on Calandagan, Ryan was gone. It will be fascinating to see what happens if they clash again in different circumstances on another day. We’ve all knocked City Of Troy, yet here he is, a Derby winner, an Eclipse winner, and now a Juddmonte International winner.

I’ve been fortunate since the inception of the Sky Bet Sunday Series, but Haydock was incredibly frustrating a couple of weeks ago. I thought at least one of Letsbefrank or American Affair would win, so to be ‘chinned’ on both was sickening.

The drama of the past few weeks has been fantastic for anyone watching the Sky Bet Sunday Series, but obviously the pressure was building prior to Pontefract last Sunday, so it was a relief to get Letsbefrank home in front and land the £100,000 bonus.

I’d like to thank Jim [Goldie], and both sets of owners, for placing their trust in my skills. Make no mistake, this was a fantastic team effort, with everyone connected with the yard playing a pivotal role, including Amie Waugh who partnered Letsbefrank to his first two Sunday Series victories.

I don’t think that people realise exactly how difficult it is to win three of those races. Letsbefrank, sourced last year by Durcan Bloodstock for 35,000gns, has now picked up the best part of £150,000.