Musselburgh 4.43 - Handicap - Class 6 - 5 furlongs - Good to Firm - 11 run

 

All past evidence suggests that on Good to Firm here over the minimum 5 furlong there is a significant advantage in being drawn High. However, there is no point being drawn high on a traditionally slow starter, and one can break from the middle stalls, grab the rail and take a lot of shifting.

 

Beneficiary is drawn in Stall 11 and is an AW specialist. He did have 3 Turf runs here in 2023 though but tends to miss the break. He is AW fit though and was 3rd best rated with that nagging doubt about being able to capitalise due to a tardy break. Royal Duke is drawn in Stall 10 and again warranted close examination, he may well need this run though and was overall 4th rated.

 

My top 2 though are SKI ANGEL who won fresh early last season, a Course and Distance winner who could get a nice position from Stall 6. He does prefer some cut in the ground but logic tells me Good to Firm in March when the soil is cold and we get some dew is not like baked summer ground.JAMIE BOND is drawn to attack too, is 13lbs below a Catterick Turf win mark early last season, that's a very sharp 5 furlongs and the ability to win fresh and early suggests that the horse should be competitive from this much reduced mark (Northern)

 

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Gowran Park 4.35 - Handicap - 1 mile - 13 run - Yielding

 

I am looking for a prominent running style here, ideally lowish draw and with proven 1 mile form to handle the closing climb.

 

The top 4 in the early market really don't entice too much, Royal Pippen has no win for 3 seasons, usually needs a run too. Nibras Rainbow has won at this trip but has also been off for 5 months and changed Trainer in the meantime. Higher Kingdom is drawn widest in Stall 13 and has precocious little turf for. NAISIUN is probably the best of the market leaders, Jim Bolgers horse won fresh last season off a mark of 49, now runs off a mark of 56 and would prefer it softer but is my 3rd best rated IF you want to play enhanced Odds.Bucky Larsen is a pace angle and could help generate a decent pace and that brings me to a couple at double figure odds.

 

HOPE AND INNOCENCE could be well handicapped and suggestions on form evidence are that this is an ideal trip with proven stamina. at 12-14/1 he's a confident each way. SERENGETI SUNRISE ran choke out for Seamie Heffernan on the AW a few weeks ago but has previously stayed on very well over 7 furlongs and a mile on Turf.  He's drawn in 4 and should get a lovely tow off Bucky Larsen. He may well have just been zippy last time but old Seamie is a wily old fox and may just have been on a reconnaissance mission for this opportunity. I can certainly visualise him being prominent for a long way and then kicking on up the climb to the finish, when Heffernan puts his mind to it, he can be a genius with sectional pace and timings. I'm IN! (Sean)

 

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