TOP NORTHERN jockey Paul Mulrennan, the leading rider at Thirsk over the past five seasons, looks set to be celebrating again when the Pennine Brewery Beer and Cider Festival is held at North Yorkshire course tomorrow evening (May 7).
Mulrennan has a full book of rides on the seven-race card, but his best of the night could be Card High, his mount in the featured Elwick Stud Handicap.
The jockey boasts an impressive record on the Wilf Storey-trained six-year-old, having ridden him just three times and been a winner twice – at Newcastle and Catterick last season.
“Paul gets on very well with Card High, who has come out of his first race of the season at Catterick very well and I hope he will run another good race at Thirsk” said Storey.
But he added a note of caution, saying: “The problem these days is finding races for him. He has been a good servant to the yard over the last few years, but has risen in the weights and is now on a career high of 78, so it is not easy”.
The Elwick Stud is owned by Geoff Turnbull, who is not only a great supporter of racing at Thirsk, but also a massive supporter of the ABF, the soldiers’ charity, which will also benefit from fund-raising during the evening and has a race named its honour.
Another of the main supporting races is the Dick Peacock Sprint Handicap, which commemorates the great Middleham trainer and this looks to provide John Quinn’s Indian Pursuit with a great chance of stepping up on his seasonal debut sixth at Ripon last month.
Indian Pursuit gained in his only win so far at Catterick, on the one occasion that he was ridden by Philip Makin, who is back in the plate tomorrow.
His run in heavy ground at Ripon was very promising as conditions were particularly testing and though race winner Bossipop is in the field again tomorrow, Indian Pursuit has a 7lbs pull in the weights and can reverse the form.
This will be the first time that the Beer Festival has come to Thirsk and will be held in the Paddock Enclosure and therefore accessible to all racegoers with Paddock or Premier admission, but will not be accessible from the Family Enclosure.
Pennine Brewing Company is an 18-barrel micro-brewery based at Well Hall Farm at Well, near Masham not too far from Thirsk and they will have 16 different beers and ciders to try.
With live music from Yorkshire’s own Ezee Goin, who provide an eclectic mix of goodtimes boogie, blues and rock and covers of the classic hits from the 60’s and 70’s as well as fun for all the kids in the Family Enclosure, it promises to be a great evening for all the family.
Gates open at 3pm with a happy hour between 3pm and 4pm when there will be 50p off a Festival pint with the first race, the Pennine Brewing Craft Beer and Cider Festival Selling Stakes, due off at 5.35pm.
Entry to the Premier Enclosure costs £22, and it’s £15 to go in the Paddock with admission for children under the age of 18 free when accompanied by a paying adult.

[ENDS]