The Paul Mulrennan Column: Surrey Pride ticks lot of boxes

John Smith's Cup day is always a favourite of mine - and not just because it's an easy drive! Even without the usual big crowds, there should be a good atmosphere on the Knavesmire and I've got a brilliant-looking book of rides.

As I've said before, if you're in my situation and not keeping busy at this time of the season then you want to be giving up, and it's been a really good few days with six winners in the last week, including Boltaway at Yarmouth - that made the four-hours-plus it took to drive there well worthwhile and it was good of Mr Charlton to keep me on board a young horse with whom I have built up a good little association.

Surrey Pride is one of the market-leaders in the John Smith's Cup and it's easy to see why, with his course-and-distance form having been boosted by runner-up Makram last weekend. He went up 6lb for that success and that looks fair enough, all things considered.

A bit of ease in the ground wouldn't be a plus-point for all of my mounts on Saturday, but it certainly wouldn't bother Surrey Pride, who has shown plenty of good form in soft ground. He's progressive, he ticks a lot of boxes and although his draw is a little wider than ideal, he's straightforward and I don't think it's going to be an issue.

My six booked rides are all for different trainers and I team up with Archie Watson to partner Outbox in the John Smith's Silver Cup. He's a bit of a legend, a real model of consistency, who is tough and takes his racing well. Logician possibly isn't quite the force he was, but Outbox fought him off well at Newmarket last time. I know Archie has had this race in mind for him a while and you've got to be hopeful.

It's a hot race for a Group Three, but possibly not as hot as the Listed race, the York John Smith's City Walls Stakes - you could see a number of the horses declared here running again in the Nunthorpe in a few weeks' time.

I ride Que Amoro for Michael Dods and we know what she can do over this course and distance. I won't dress it up - I probably just went a stride too quick on her at Ascot on her first start of the season, but she came out of the race in great shape and the team at the yard have done a really good job with her.

I still retain a lot of faith in her ability to win a nice race this season and this could well be the starting point. She needed that first run back and it will have done her a lot of good blowing away the cobwebs.

The other one I'll give a mention to is Red Power, whose trainer Tom Dascombe is in good form this season and has been giving me some nice rides.

I remember riding a winner for Sir Alex Ferguson a few years ago and he was an absolute gentleman to ride for, so hopefully I can give him another one - I think the form of this horse's second at Haydock is good, despite the small field, and I don't think dropping back down to six furlongs will be a problem at all.