Paul Mulrennan: Thrilled to get the call for Glen Shiel again

I’m travelling south to Ascot on Saturday where it’s great to be back aboard Glen Shiel in the Group 3 John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes (3.15pm). He loves the track and with plenty of rain forecast the ground should be perfect. Soft ground is the key for Glen Shiel and this option does represent a marked ease in grade.

I was successful on Glen Shiel at Newcastle last summer, and acknowledging that he is the regular ride of Hollie Doyle, it was still a thrill to get the call from Archie Watson earlier in the week. Glen Shiel finished runner-up over course and distance at the Royal meeting (Diamond Jubilee Stakes) and also delivered the goods here in last year’s QIPCO British Champions Sprint. His last four races have all come in Group One company.

Obviously we do remain ever respectful of the opposition, and it’ll be interesting to see what develops in the rematch between Bielsa and Great Ambassador. That pair raced on opposite sides of the course when filling the first two places in the Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup. Saturday sees them drawn upsides one another.

I’ve also picked up a nice spare aboard Escobar in the Equine Productions “The Fall” Challenge Cup (3.50pm). It’s the first time I’ve ridden this ultra-consistent David O’Meara-trained handicapper who is another likely to be suited by the easing conditions.

Escobar has been running at a high level all season - finished third in the Victoria Cup here in May - and the combination of a return to Ascot, the soft ground and perhaps a fresh pair of hands could unlock extra reserves. He hasn’t won for a while but possesses plenty of talent.

Rosemary And Thyme has progressed through the handicap ranks and should also find conditions favourable in the Listed October Stakes (1.30pm). I’ve only ridden for Hughie Morrison twice previously (both were winners) and she could feasibly outrun her projected odds.

Her official rating of 90 indicates that she’s a more-than-capable filly, and despite still seeking her first win on turf (0-8) she was an excellent fourth at triple-figure odds in the Coral Distaff at Sandown. Hopefully, she can sneak into the frame.

It’s a fabulous renewal of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday. The Derby winner Adayar, the Irish Derby winner Hurricane Lane, the Oaks winner Snowfall, and the Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Tarnawa all feature.

It’s noticeable that with the French lacking strength in depth, the majority of those towards the top-end of the market are either English or Irish trained. Meanwhile, Japan – double-handed with Chrono Genesis and Deep Bond - continue to seek a first ever Arc success.

With a handy draw (stall 3) and the conditions to suit, I’m sticking with Tarnawa. She’s been primed for the Arc by Dermot Weld and arguably was a little unlucky in defeat to the recently-retired St Mark’s Basilica in the Irish Champions Stakes at Leopardstown. Her rider Christophe Soumillion knows the way around Longchamp like the back of his hand, and was in the saddle last season when she took both the Qatar Prix Vermeille and the Longines Prix de l’Opera.

Unfortunate circumstances dictated the late abandonment of racing at Hamilton Park on Monday, which was admittedly difficult to accept having wasted precious fuel and a couple of hours' driving time by the time the decision was made.

Luckily with fuel still available locally I’ve managed to avoid the worst of the crisis but it’s a nuisance spending so long in a queue watching individuals filling up jerry cans and whatever else is available. After Newcastle on Friday, I’m driving down to Ascot before a day off on Sunday and a relatively short journey to Pontefract on Monday.

Hopefully things will begin to return to normal over the weekend otherwise it’ll become a major headache for the entire industry.

With a total of 19 winners recorded, September was a fantastic month for me personally. During the month I’ve ridden for very many trainers, and also finished as the top jockey with four victories at the Ayr Western Meeting.

With the turf season ending at so many of the northern racecourses, and an incurred five-day ban looming on the horizon, I’ll be looking to make the most of whatever opportunities come my way in October.