NO jockey has worked harder than Paul Mulrennan and his services are now in demand at a higher level. On Saturday, at Newcastle, he won the Group 3 Betfred Chipchase Stakes on Markaz, Mecca’s Angel’s full-brother.

Trained by former jumps jockey Owen Burrows for Hamdan Al Maktoum, Markaz was dropping back to six furlongs. Ridden just off the pace, he moved through to challenge Watchable before the furlong marker and then kept on strongly to hold Godolphin’s Pretend by a length. With good recent winner Mr Lupton back in fifth it looks very fair form.

“He’s in the July Cup and this gives us more of an option now,’’ Burrows said of the 9/2 winner.

AMAZOUR PREVAILS

It looked a very competitive Betfred TV Handicap over six furlongs and went to Ismail Mohammed’s 6/1 shot Amazour, who held Mick Channon’s Moonraker by a head.

Well ridden by James Doyle, Amazour may go on from this now that he is over one or two minor physical problems. The two to disappoint were Blaine and George Bowen, who both came up the centre when the far side looked the place to be. Blaine had been raised significantly for his clear-cut victory at Epsom and will be hard to place now, but Richard Fahey’s George Bowen is one to keep an eye on for a race like the Stewards’ Cup or the consolation sprint at Goodwood.

On that subject there was a prize of over £46,000 for those who missed the cut in the Northumberland Plate, and one such horse was Sir Michael Stoute’s Dannyday. Sent off at 7/2 favourite in the Northumberland Vase, he overcame minor traffic problems and kept on well for Ted Durcan to beat Haines by a neck.