A WORD of warning to anyone Musselburgh bound this afternoon expecting free entry – forget it. Ok, that’s two words, but you get my drift.
The Racing Post reported yesterday that the East Lothian venue is to throw its doors open to all for free today but this was slightly premature. That doesn’t actually take place until next Monday!
As it happens, it’s an evening meeting and the
nap Merrymaker can get things off to a flying start in the opener.
Entrusting the best bet to an amateur jockey isn’t exactly a route I like to go down too often but the professionals haven’t exactly been doing us too many favours lately so step forward Mr Ben Brisbourne.
Merrymaker hasn’t won this year, but if he could reproduce the performance that saw him finish a near fifth at Warwick a couple of runs back, he’d take some stopping.
Unlike some of his peers, young Scottish jockey Neil Brown has gradually worked his way up through the ranks, and he can again demonstrate his talents aboard Toy Top in the sprint handicap.
Mintoe has just one course appearance to his name and although he didn’t manage to win, he showed plenty of promise, and the form of that debut outing has worked out really well so Kevin Ryan’s youngster should be followed.
Stablemate Cha Cha Cha has been tripping the light fantastic on the all-weather of late but Neil Callan’s mount is just as proficient on grass and as there’s likely to be no shortage of pace in the ‘Good Luck Claire’ Handicap, the race should suit the filly.
The eight runners in the next have yet to register a win between them so something has to give and hopefully it will be Southern raider Lucky Character who gives it.
In an ideal world, Chookie Hamilton might have waited until tomorrow’s meeting at Hamilton to make his seasonal debut, but with their string continuing in good form, the gelding can give the dynamic duo of Linda Perratt and Ian Semple another success.
The full article contains 359 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
