The Paul Mulrennan column: Judicial has a "massive chance"

We’re officially three weeks into the Flat turf season, but it’s been somewhat of a stop/start business. Everyone is geared up for Doncaster, and then there’s always a big lull with the season taking longer to get going every year.

I’ve managed to notch a couple of winners on turf, but truthfully don’t have any standout objectives for the season ahead other than to knuckle down, continue to work hard and hopefully pick up plenty of rides. With the Yorkshire tracks now swinging back into action – I rode at Ripon on Thursday – we’re on the right path.

The All-Weather Championships Finals Day have a new home at Newcastle, and that’s fantastic news for a northern-based rider. I’m Gosforth Park bound for three booked rides.

I’m really looking forward to riding IMPERIAL SANDS (2.00pm) in the All-Weather Mile Championships. He’s a good horse on his day, and I know the stable think a lot of him. He wasn’t allowed to dominate last time at Lingfield, but he is straightforward, and I’ve been down to Archie’s (Watson) to ride work. Newcastle is a different test to Lingfield, but that’s no real concern with his trainer known for producing versatile horses and boasting such a healthy overall record at the track. There probably isn’t a great deal between him and Tempus (Hollie Doyle) with both horses possessing a similar style of racing.

Although ever advancing in years JUDICIAL (2.35pm) remains a high-class performer, and this race – All-Weather Sprint Championships – has been the long-term objective. I was really happy with his reappearance run here in March (second to Venturous) and he has got to have a massive chance. The bigger field and stronger gallop will suit him better, and I’ll be able to take my time from a positive draw close to the stands’ rail.

SIR CHAUVELIN (4.15pm) loves Newcastle, and he’s a better horse there than anywhere else. He was unlucky in the Queen’s Prize at Kempton – another couple of strides, and he’d have got even closer to Bandinelli – and that track doesn’t really play to his strengths. Jim (Goldie) isn’t afraid to experiment with different trips or ways of riding horses, and don’t forget this lad finished third to Withhold in the 2018 Northumberland Plate. Newcastle is a stiff track and riding a patient race aboard Sir Chauvelin has already reaped dividends on multiple occasions during the winter.

Flat racing returns to Scotland on Easter Saturday, and there will be a sizable crowd in attendance for the prestigious Betway Queen’s Cup fixture.

DESERT ANGEL (1.32pm) won at Doncaster and Newmarket last year; he’s still unexposed and a lovely spare ride to pick up. The nature of the track at Musselburgh and the likelihood of a strong gallop should suit. For obvious reasons Richard Hannon doesn’t send too many runners there but whatever he does send usually runs well – 3-6 (50% strike-rate).

I know NORTHERN EXPRESS (2.04pm) very well, and I’m really looking forward to taking the ride. He’s a grand horse. I’ve been riding him at Michael’s, his horses are running well, and this horse seems in good form. However, he’s 2lb higher than when successful at Ayr last September and is obviously having his first run of the year. As with most other horses, there’s a little bit of guesswork involved this early in the season. It’s always nice to get that first run under the belt.

MAKANAH (2.39pm) thrives at Musselburgh. His last win came over C&D (overall record 1,1,2,3) and this race will certainly be run to suit. He’s 2lb lower than when just failing to reel-in Mokaatil here last August.

PRIMO’S COMET (4.22pm) was a regular at Musselburgh during 2021, rising in the weights with three wins, and three placed finishes from just eight starts. He carries topweight on return from a 216-day absence.

Collectively, we’re pretty unhappy about the removal of racecourse saunas, and there’s no doubt that the consultation process could have been better handled. Our stance was perfectly clear in that we would be willing to sacrifice the racecourse saunas on the condition that the 3lb COVID weight allowance remained in place.

Dr George Wilson of John Moores University (Liverpool) has been an advocate of raising the minimum riding weight for years. I’m lucky in that I’ve been able to collaborate very closely with this renowned expert. Removing both the 3lb COVID allowance and the saunas but raising the minimum weight by a mere 2lb (to 8st 2lb) still leaves us a full 5lb behind the Irish (8st 7lb). I can guarantee that we will have to raise the minimum weight again in a couple of years. If the authorities are truly serious about helping jockeys, then why can’t we simply follow the Irish model?

In the morning, we’re riding out in various parts of the country prior to travelling onto racecourses far and wide. Our country is unique in that travelling such long distances is unavoidable. Racing is the only weight gaining sport which competes seven days a week, and that’s what the decision makers fail to consider.

The 3lb COVID allowance was a comfort blanket – we’ve all grown into that 3lb - and I’m fearful that some of the younger lads will resort to ‘flipping’ in order to keep their weight under control. Sweating in the car is a dangerous past-time, with the only other viable option being to run lap after lap around the track.

Newcastle is a three-hour round trip, Musselburgh a seven-hour round trip, and that’s before factoring in Southwell (Sunday) and Redcar (Monday). It has always been tough going for jockeys – there simply aren’t enough hours in the day – so taking away saunas and allowances is a major inconvenience.

Everyone can see that apprentices are getting bigger and bigger, and even the most cursory glance at an average school child demonstrates that this is also true across the board. Gone are the eight-stone days. Riders who weigh light – Hollie Doyle, Silvestre De Sousa etc – aren’t getting rides because of an ability to make the weight. They’re getting the rides as bloody good jockeys! I have more riding years behind me than in front of me, but I do care about the sport and I’m thinking about longevity, and the problems facing the younger generation.