THE bookies came out on top at Musselburgh's final jumps meeting of the current season even though the stewards on the East Lothian track gave punters a big helping hand.
After the long odds-on favourite, Logans Run, had only managed a last-gasp dead-heat with 14-1 outsider Raysrock in the opening novices hurdle, the officials held a lengthy inquiry into what had been a pretty rough finish.
The favourite had winnin
g bumper form in Ireland and cost 220,000 guineas when joining Howard Johnson last year, but Raysrock had taken the lead early in the home straight in the hands of Timmy Murphy with Logans Run under pressure and not jumping well.
There was little between them on the run to the last where Raysrock hung badly left, giving his rival a hefty bump and he then continued to impede the market leader until Logans Run, in turn, hung right in the last 100 yards before forcing a dead heat on the line.
The stewards decided that Murphy was guilty of careless riding and handed him a four-day ban, while they awarded Logans Run the prize outright before cautioning his rider, Dennis O'Reagan, for also causing interference through careless riding in the dying strides.
Halla San was another hot favourite to prevail in the main event – the WBX.Com Handicap Hurdle – quickening well to lead at the last and follow up his recent course victory
Well-backed debutant Merrydown – who cost 51,000gns – took the concluding bumper for Nicky Richards and Tony Dobbin, but the rest of the afternoon went the bookmakers way, especially when 50-1 shot Belem Ranger outpointed the well-fancied Just In Debt in the hunter chase.
The grey was well ridden by Harry Haynes who has just returned to the saddle after a three month lay-off following a car accident and gave Hawick-based permit holder Jennifer Warwick her first winner under rules.
Kalmo Bay got a lovely ride from Tom Dreaper to defy top weight in the Anderson Strathern Novices Handicap Chase.
The 8-1 shot came from last to first in the home straight to collar Stravaigin at the final fence and win a shade cleverly without his rider having to resort to the stick.
The gelding looks the sort to go in again soon as the ground dries up while Phil Kirby had his first winner with a full licence when Amazing King came home nine lengths clear in the juvenile hurdle.
Jockey Jamie Moore made the long trip from his base near Brighton to land his first Musselburgh success when making all the running on Marsam in the two mile novice hurdle for Newmarket trainer Mick Quinlan with the well backed market leaders Akarem and Comprimiznotension both unplaced.
The full article contains 468 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
