MUSSELBURGH'S big summer race spends an away day down the line at York tomorrow and the move will have a major bearing on the result of the National Express Scottish Sprint Cup (3.55).
This £50,000 heritage handicap has moved temporarily to Knavesmire in an exchange deal which helps the Yorkshire track, who will embark on a new drainage scheme costing more than £1million. Musselburgh has taken a York day in October in a deal which
will boost finances.
Glasgow trainer Jim Goldie will be delighted at the switch, for he saddles River Falcon who has failed three times to win this prize on it's "home" track, but is a real course specialist at York.
The gelding has won three times over the minimum trip on Knavesmire and been placed on several occasions. Two of those victories came in May and he was runner-up in that same race again just a couple of weeks ago, so must go well again, especially as rain will have taken the sting out of the ground. Fyodor had not won for more than 15 months, but bounced back to his best form when winning a competitive sprint at Haydock last weekend when the application of a visor helped him greatly. Whether it will have the same effect again is a question.
Tabaret ran really well when a close six at the last meeting here when he disputed the lead until entering the final furlong. The gelding won the Listed Roses Stakes on this track as a juvenile, has bags of speed and is another for the short list.
Elhamri won three times as a juvenile, including the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot and the valuable Super Sprint at Newbury and came back from almost two years in the wilderness to score at Goodwood recently.
He needs fast ground to show his best and has often been beaten by heavy underfoot conditions but, when the going is quick, he is a sprinter to be reckoned with.
Dandy Nicholls saddles four of the 20 runners, including Northern Fling and Indian Trail who share top weight. But Machinist can prove best of the quartet for he was a close second to top sprinter Reverence at Haydock before finishing fourth in a big field for a valuable sprint on this track a fortnight ago.
Fantasy Explorer and Siren's Gift are others to consider, but River Falcon loves the Knavesmire and can collect yet another prize there.
The Stowe Family Law Grand Cup (3.25) has also been transferred and has attracted runners from the major stables. Tungsten Strike has winning form at Group two level, while Red Gala represents Sir Michael Stoute.
However, Tranquil Tiger can take the prize for Henry Cecil. The four-year-old disappointed on his reappearance, but won a Listed event at Newbury recently by ten lengths from Regal Flush and can confirm the form with the Godolphin representative on the same terms here.
The full article contains 498 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
