JOCKEY Paul Mulrennan will tomorrow return to York Racecourse for The Press Family Raceday – still in high spirits after his popular triumph on this track aboard Mecca’s Angel in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes a fortnight ago.

Based in Boroughbridge less than 20 miles from Knavesmire, Mulrennan, 33, is in no doubt the victory – his first in a Group 1 – is the pinnacle of his career to date.

Mecca’s Angel, trained in County Durham by Michael Dods, blitzed through the final stages of the famous sprint to win by two lengths from the American star, Acapulco.

The success sparked huge celebrations among racegoers, as well as connections, and left Mulrennan with memories he’ll always treasure.

He said: “To be honest, it still hasn’t sunk in. There are still people coming up congratulating me now. I’m still getting text messages.

“It was just great for everyone connected - Michael Dods and all his staff, the owner David Metcalfe, and for Yorkshire as well. For a northern-based yard and jockey to win the Group 1 Nunthorpe at York - it was extra special.”

Mulrennan believes the response from the crowd was as rapturous as the one that greeted Frankel following the star colt’s win in the 2012 Juddmonte International.

He said: “That was the thing that really kicked in and that I keep remembering – the reception when we went into the winner’s enclosure. The reception was unbelievable.

“It’s my best ever day in racing - my biggest achievement, right up there. I hope I have more Group 1 winners, more big winners, but it will take a lot to beat that. You can’t beat the first one.

“You would love to ride a Group 1 winner anywhere but to do it at York, your own home track, with my family there and it being for my boss Michael Dods - it just doesn’t get any bigger or better than that.”

The unique atmosphere of the jockey’s weighing room ensured Mulrennan’s achievement wasn’t just celebrated by a bumper crowd.

He said: “It was unbelievable when I came back in - the roar the lads gave me. They knew what it meant to me."

Mulrennan has fingers crossed for more glorious days, not least with Mecca’s Angel. Her next likely race could be another shot at Group 1 glory, in the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp on Arc day, Sunday October 4.

Her rider, who has already passed 60 victories for the year, added: “I’m looking for another Group 1 winner out of Mecca’s Angel. Hopefully, she’ll go for the Abbaye and win that.

"I’ll be riding all the way up until Christmas, pushing all the way to ride as many winners as I can.”

That includes tomorrow at York where he has three potential rides for Dods, aboard Eltheeb in the Barkers Garage Stakes, Corona Borealis in the Castles UK Educational And Residential Furniture Stakes and Fendale in the Hanson Springs Stakes.

The jockey said: “They’re three horses that are fresh and in really good form. We-re expecting big runs out of them all.”