Musselburgh prepares for Sunday meeting
Musselburgh’s management has never been slow to realise the importance of Sunday racing, regularly putting on a series of valuable events and this Sunday’s card is an excellent example, writes John Budden.
Though it is stretching the imagination to discover the winner of next month’s Queen Mother Champion Chase among the entry for the John Smith’s Scottish Champion Chase, the competitive nature of the turnout will ensure a wide open betting contest.
Confirmed front runners like Carrietau, Storm Surge, Santa’s Son, Laterly and Quito Du Tresor are certain to set a frenetic pace and out of this quintet it is the last named who possesses that touch of class which wins him the casting vote. Trained by Lucinda Russell, Quito Du Tresor can be an erratic jumper but back in November, he made all the running to land a well contested chase at Ascot. A repetition of that display will give him a major chance on Sunday when Lightning Rod, trained by Mick Easterby appeals as the most serious threat.
Yorkshire stables can dominate the Scottish Triumph Hurdle with the race likely to develop into a match between Richard Fahey’s progressive Mica Mika and the lightly raced Blue Destination from the John Quinn yard. Mica Mika knows how to win but Quinn reckons that Blue Destination, placed in both his two runs over hurdles, is a similar type to Recession Proof who took a while to come to himself last season but once he gained in experience never stopped improving.
The John Smith’s Scottish County Hurdle will prove the highlight of a tremendous afternoon at Musselburgh. At least three recent course winners are expected to be in the line up. Both Dontpaytheferryman and Ingleby Spirit will be chasing their third consecutive wins round Musselburgh but it is Simply Ned, the well-backed winner of last month’s TurfTV Handicap Hurdle who can spoil their day. The form of the TurfTV Hurdle is working out well and provided that the ground at Musselburgh on Sunday does not ride heavy, Simply Ned is the horse they will all have to beat.
Full report in this week’s News
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Weather for Musselburgh
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
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