Disappointed Paul Mulrennan loses Mabs Cross Nunthorpe ride to Gerald Mosse

Paul Mulrennan has expressed his disappointment at losing the ride on Mabs Cross in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday, calling the experience of missing out on riding in the Group 1 sprint "character-building".

The jockey has teamed up with the Michael Dods-trained sprinter for 11 of her 16 starts, including her last three, but will be replaced by Gerald Mosse, who was on board when the flying five-year-old landed the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp last year. That was the only occasion Mosse has partnered the mare.

Mabs Cross went agonisingly close to winning the Nunthorpe last year when edged out by Alpha Delphini under Tom Eaves in a thriller.

"It's always been a pleasure to ride her," said Mulrennan.

"She's been working well in the last couple of weeks and I'll obviously be cheering her on if I don't pick up another ride in the race.

"I've had a lot of success for the owners [David and Emma Armstrong] and hopefully will again, but they're entitled to their choice and I'm not the first jockey in the world to lose a big ride.

"I served my time with Mick Easterby and he always said this game can tame lions. It's character-building and all you can do is stay humble, dust yourself off and keep working."

Mulrennan reached a career landmark of 1,000 winners when Camacho Chief scored for Dods at Doncaster in June, and the trainer has provided 12 of his 34 winners this year.

Paul Mulrennan: has partnered Mabs Cross in 11 of her 16 starts

The jockey will partner Camacho Chief and the progressive two-year-old Troubadour on the opening day of the Ebor festival on Wednesday as he bids to make the final months of the season count.

"The Ebor meeting means a lot to me and I'm still looking forward to it," said Mulrennan, who has also picked up a ride on Shergar Cup winner Indianapolis in the Sky Bet Handicap on Friday.

"I've been buoyed this year by the support I enjoy from Mr Dods and all the other yards and owners I regularly ride for. I've just got to keep things ticking over and try to get as many winners as I can."

Explaining the reason for the jockey switch, Dods said: "We discussed it with the owners last week and they were keen for Gerald to take the ride. Paul rides a lot of ours and has done well on her, but the owners have one eye on France.

"All being well she will go back for the Abbaye and they would like the jockey who won on her over there to take the ride."

Mabs Cross is a best-price 5-1 with Hills to go one better than last year and win the Nunthorpe. July Cup winner Ten Sovereigns heads the betting at 7-4, while Battaash, fresh from winning the King George Stakes at Goodwood for the third time in a row, is second-favourite at 9-4.

Dods added: "She's perhaps gone under the radar a little bit. You have to be impressed with what Battaash has done this season and Aidan O'Brien is bullish on Ten Sovereigns after Newmarket.

"They deserve respect but we feel she's well and has performed at the track before. They're good horses and hopefully we're somewhere near them at the end of the race and put last year's defeat right."

Get exclusive insight from the track and live tipping with Raceday Live - our up-to-the-minute service on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app