North Yorkshire jockey Paul Mulrennan, who spent much of last year on the sidelines after breaking a leg, is fast making up for lost time this season and can strike yet again at Haydock tomorrow evening.
Mulrennan rode a double at Pontefract on Monday night, the latest in a series of winners for the talented pilot who was laid low last June on the eve of Royal Ascot after his mount failed to negotiate the turn in front of the stands at Musselburgh and crashed through the rails.
It was not until February of this year that Mulrennan finally returned to the saddle, but he has been in cracking form since, riding for a wide array of northern trainers, including Michael Dods, for whom he has good prospects at Haydock on Dos Amigos.
A promising third on his only outing last season, Dos Amigos made a successful return to action at Thirsk last month in maiden company, winning in the style of a horse with a bright future.
He now steps into handicap company for the first time, but Dods sees him as a progressive individual and he is certainly not to be underestimated in the Silk Mill Bar (Ripponden) Handicap over seven furlongs.
Great Habton’s Tim Easterby has a good chance of lifting the YPO Pennine Best Of Britain Handicap with Deepsand, owned by Trevor Hemmings, better known as a supporter of jump racing.
A dual-winner last term at Ayr and Redcar, Deepsand gave notice of a return to form at Pontefract on his latest start when chasing home Satanic Beat.
He can step up on that display here.
Luca Cumani is aiming to strike while the iron is hot with Sea Fever in the Steps Here On 21st July Handicap.
The three-year-old won at Leicester last week and reappears under a 6lb penalty with Kirsty Milczarek in the saddle. A follow up looks likely and the nap vote is awarded.
The Tony Cunliffe’s 50th Birthday Celebrations Maiden Stakes sees juveniles stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time and Mysterial, trained by Richard Hannon should be hard to beat.
Good runs over five furlongs and six furlongs, at Newmarket and Newbury, both times in competitive maidens, put Mysterial in a favourable light and he is taken to make it third time lucky under Sean Levey.
At Newbury in the afternoon, Great Heavens will be a popular fancy in the featured Lord Weinstock Memorial Stakes.
Trained by John Gosden, whose string are in excellent form, Great Heavens gained a cosy three lengths win in maiden company at Yarmouth last month on her seasonal bow.
Significantly, that success was gained on heavy ground and, with similar conditions likely at the Berkshire course, she promises to be in her element.
William Buick, riding winners galore at present, takes the mount.
Dual all-weather winner Tigers Tale (2.50) and the promising Wordismybond (4.30) are two others to note.
Wordismybond, another of Buick’s mounts, shaped well over six furlongs on his reappearance at Salisbury, but now returns to seven furlongs, over which he won at Warwick last season.
Racing selections
Newbury (tomorrow)
2.20 Toronado, 2.50 Tigers Tale, 3.25 Great Heavens, 4.00 Disposition, 4.30 Wordismybond, 5.05 Nicholascopernicus, 5.35 Now What.
Haydock (tomorrow)
6.50 Silver Tigress, 7.20 Mysterial, 7.50 Dos Amigos, 8.20 Deepsand, 8.50 Haajes, 9.20 Sea Fever (NAP).
Tomorrow’s other meetings
Hereford, Nottingham, Uttoxeter and Yarmouth.
Today’s meetings
Beverley, Hamilton, Haydock, Kempton and Yarmouth.
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