Paul Mulrennan column: Getting ready for delights of the Dante

I always say that York signals the proper start of the Flat season. I love riding on the Knavesmire and have always enjoyed my fair share of luck there over the years. Fingers crossed that can continue next week. 

Azure Blue is set to make her seasonal reappearance in the 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes. We took her down to Thirsk the other day for a racecourse gallop and she seems in good nick. Michael (Dods) has touched on the reasons why she has been absent since the July Cup, and the fact that it is no secret we expect her to improve for York. 

She knew exactly why she was there at Thirsk; she proper woke up and was ready to go when we took her off the horsebox. You don’t need to be doing too much in a racecourse gallop; her heart rate will have risen during that piece of work, with the whole experience giving her something different to think about. The visit to Thirsk should have brought her forward and I will be at Piercebridge early on Saturday for her final gallop prior to York. 

For everyone working in the industry, proper top-quality Saturday horses like Azure Blue are getting harder and harder to find. Small field sizes for feature races across the country, like we’ve witnessed at Chester, are worrying for the game. I think I’m correct in saying that there was just one Newmarket-trained horse (Notable Speech) in last week’s QIPCO 2000 Guineas. 

Regular readers will be aware that I’ve always thought the world of Azure Blue, with the experience drawn from riding Mecca’s Angel, Easton Angel and Mabs Cross offering a valuable insight into the traits and characteristics of any top-class sprinter. 

I also have Station X for Bryan Smart. He ran well (second) on debut at Musselburgh. I sat on him on Tuesday, and he has come forward since that race. It looks a competitive novice at York, there are some fancy entries, but we’ll be there having a go. I’m looking forward to riding him again. 

I was a little disappointed with Northern Express in the Thirsk Hunt Cup, but the ground was soft enough. When I wanted to get out and work some room, it took him forever to pick up, which isn’t really his style. We’ll head to York – he loves it there – hoping for better. 

Notable Speech was overlooked in the build up to last week’s Qipco 2000 Guineas. The fact that he had won three times on the Polytrack at Kempton presumably one of the reasons that he was sent off at 16/1. 

With winter becoming ever more challenging, the AW could continue to play an important role for trainers preparing for the early season Classics. 

Musselburgh (last Friday) was a thoroughly good day at the office, with a treble in the first three races courtesy of Circus Lion, Kelpie Grey and Zaphea. 

Fawzi Nass is a massive supporter of the game, and his Circus Lion took a marked step up from his juvenile efforts when making all in the five-furlong maiden. His dam was an unraced half-sister to the smart Group 2 winner Tis Marvellous, so clearly there is plenty of speed in the pedigree. 

The handicapper has been quite fair in awarding an opening mark of 80, so I’d be hopeful that he can continue to progress. 

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I couldn’t get a ride in the feature Swinton Hurdle (joking!), so I’m sticking with the Flat for three rides. Mixed cards aren’t ideal, but I will take the opportunity to have a bit craic with the jumps’ lads. Plenty of those from my era – Jamie Moore, Paddy Brennan, Aidan Coleman – have all retired. Jumping is a tough game. 

Johnny Ringo (2.10pm) is the pick. I rode him on debut at Musselburgh last September and he’s improved with every run since then. He contested a hot race on handicap debut the other week - the winner Ice Max is now rated 109 – and I’d imagine that he’ll improve for that comeback run. 

Roaring Ralph (2.45pm) is drawn wide on first start since October, while Continuance (5.00pm) drops back in distance on second start for Martin Keighley.