MUSSELBURGH stage their first evening meeting of the summer tomorrow when Rievaulx World looks set to get punters off to a flying start.
Kevin Ryan's colt has shown bags of promise in his two races so far and can open his winning account in the EBF Michael Page World Class Service Maiden Stakes (6.50pm) which opens the programme.
A 32,000 guineas buy, he has bags of pace and was al
ways prominent when he made his debut at Chester three weeks ago, before eventually tiring and fading into third place. He was runner-up at Haydock last weekend where he led until approaching the final furlong before giving best by just over a length to a highly-rated rival. The colt is a son of top sprinter Compton Place and will be suited by the sharp five furlongs on the East Lothian track.
Ryan's yard is running into top form and he can complete a quick double with Sparton Duke in the next race – the Bibby Financial Services Bicentennial Handicap (7.20pm). The gelding was trained until recently by Eoghan O'Neill for whom he showed promise in his first two runs on turf last year before breaking his maiden in good style on the Polytrack at Kempton in January and he was then third at Wolverhampton the following month.
The three-year-old was coming back from a three-month break when turning in an excellent effort on his first run for his new trainer on the new all-weather track at Great Leighs three weeks ago where he led approaching the final furlong until caught in the last few strides.
Ryan switched him back to turf tomorrow and he has to concede weight to his four rivals, but he ran well in decent company on grass at Goodwood and Redcar last term and can land the spoils.
Royal Dignitary simply loves the East Lothian circuit and will be fancied to complete a hat-trick in the Bernard Hunter Crane Hire Claiming Stakes (8.50pm). Four of his nine career wins have come here, the latest when he made all the running at the last meeting here.
The Dandy-Nicholls trained gelding had previously scored at Southwell, should have little trouble in getting an early lead tomorrow and I expect him to win again. Annibale Caro is another recent course winner in great shape and he can score again in the final race – the Marshall-Tufflex Odyssey Cup (9.20pm) – to make it four successive wins. The run of victories began in the first week in May at Catterick over a mile and a half and he easily justified favouritism over this course and distance a fortnight later.
The gelding completed the hat-trick at Newcastle and now has a 12lbs penalty to carry, but useful apprentice PJ McDonald will be able to set his 3lbs claim against that additional imposition.
Musselburgh Selections: 6.50: Rievaulx World; 7.20: Sparton Duke; 8.50: Royal Dignitary; 9.20: Annibale Caro.
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