Newbury: Mulrennan spurns home comforts to steer Orlaith to Listed Byerley Stud success
A win for Paul Mulrennan and Orlaith (Photo: Newbury Racecourse) Paul Mulrennan gave up a full card of rides at his home track - Thirsk - to travel from Yorkshire to Newbury where he was rewarded with victory on Scottish trained Orlaith in the day’s feature Listed Byerley Stud Stakes (August 16).
Only an occasional visitor to Newbury, Mulrennan’s trips invariably pay off just like this time when the Iain Jardine-trained filly, who had travelled from Dumfriesshire, took the 5f prize by three quartersof a length from Al Raya.
“This filly has done nothing but improve,” said Mulrennan. “She seemed to relish the oft ground. She has got bigger and stronger and I thought it was never in doubt. She was drawn one and I only had to give her a couple of smacks."
“Thirsk is on tonight and I could have had five rides there and I only live two minutes from there, but like I said she has improved a hell of a lot and I thought it was worth a shot at this.”
Mulrennan continued, “I’ve always had plenty of luck at Newbury. I passed my driving test here when I was riding for Brian Meehan and I won on Mecca’s Angel.”
Elementary again for Watson
After timing his challenge perfectly to win the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano on Headman at Deauville 24 hours earlier, Newbury Racecourse ambassador Jason Watson left it late again to deliver newcomer Quadrilateral to a neck victory for the same team of owner Khalid Abdullah and trainer Roger Charlton in the first race on the card - the Unibet EBF Maiden Stakes.
Jason Watson & Qualdrilateral 
Jason Watson discussing the going with Clerk of the Course Keith Ottesen
Watson’s ninth winner of the year at Newbury took him to the top of the leading jockey standings at the track.
Charlton’s son Harry said: “We weren’t necessarily coming here thinking she’d win but she has always been quite competitive at home. Jason said her natural ability got her there in the end. She is in the Rockfel Stakes. I guess she will let us know if that’s the right race for her.”
Watson narrowly missed out on a double in the next race when the Charlie Bishop-ridden Gin Palace, trained in Blewbury by Eve Johnson Houghton, denied Canal Rocks by a head in the Christopher Smith Associates Handicap.
Game And Set and match
Game And Set, from the family of Irish Derby and Gold Cup winner Fame And Glory, could be headed to a Group 3 race in Baden Baden after sticking on too well for Star In The Making to claim her first victory from only three outings. She was ridden by David Probert in the Tom Mitchell 65th Birthday British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes for local trainer Andrew Balding.
Game And Set with David Probert (Photo: Newbury Racecourse)