Low key Monday at Musselburgh

MUSSELBURGH – Monday May 13^th

Going – Good (Good to Soft in places)

2.00 2m 32Red Handicap (Amateur Riders)(Class 6)

This was a moderate handicap to start off a low key card at Musselburgh.

JAN SMUTS won here last season and seems to stay all day. He was ridden early in the straight but kept finding more and got on top in the final furlong. He can continue to be competitive in low level staying contests.

BRASINGAMAN ERIC, second here recently, led briefly over a furlong out but couldn’t match the winner. He’s got a decent record for one operating at this level and should be in the mix in staying amateur contests in coming months.

TALK OF SAAFEND was tapped for speed in the last 300 yards. He has won a similar event here, but needs things to fall his way and is generally one to oppose.

SUMMERLEA ran a decent race for one off the track for the best part of two years. He pulled hard early on, but wasn’t getting an awful lot of assistance from his inexperienced rider in the latter stages. His rider will presumably benefit from the outing, as should Summerlea who has shown bits and pieces of form from 12 furlongs upwards in the past.

2.30 5f EBF 2yo Maiden Stakes (Class 5)

SUZI’S CONNOISSEUR showed signs of greenness both before and during the race. He jumped off well enough and picked up nicely when asked from two furlongs out, though drifting about a bit in the closing stages. This may not prove the strongest contest, but he should produce better in time.

MEADWAY was outpaced early on and driven at halfway. The winner got a run on him but he stuck to his guns well enough in the closing stages. The experience will serve him well.

ALASKAN NIGHT broke well but was found wanting when headed two furlongs out and LENDAL BRIDGE, the only one to see a racecourse previous to this, was similarly put in his place.

3.05 1m 32Red Casino Handicap (Class 5)

The race was won by virtue of well-judged ride from the front by Graham Lee on STAFF SERGEANT. The winner has dropped significantly in the handicap and this was the easiest task he has had for some time. A Class 4 level performer running at Class 5 here, it would be hoped this will be a confidence booster for an attempt in the higher class.

EASTWARD HO kept on for second, but none got in a serious blow to the leader in the final two furlongs.

Linda Perratt’s stable is way off its game at moment and her pair of ROYAL STRAIGHT and SILVER RIME struggled from a long way out.

3.40 1m 4f 100yds Turcan Connell Handicap (Class 5)

MOHAWK RIDGE made all and stayed on well, not in danger from the furlong pole. He won in a similar fashion at Newcastle recently.

HAWDYERWHEESHT was the only one to challenge the winner in the final two furlongs, but he was held from the furlong pole.

MADRASA came out of the pack for third, but was never better placed and is 1 win from 21. CAPELLANUS stayed on from well back for fourth. The latter is on long losing run and basically frustrating.

4.15 5f Racing UK Maiden Stakes (Class 5)

A race won by a newcomer in the form of Jim Goldie’s ALGAR LAD. He was in rear early on but stayed on well in the final two furlongs to win a bit cosily. Once he got going he showed some fair speed and should go on from this encouraging debut.

RED  BARON joined issue two out and stuck well enough if comfortably held by one more speedy.

WOTALAD kept on for third and might benefit from a step up to six furlongs.

ANDERTON was made favourite but appears regressive even at this early stage in his career. He found woefully little in the last furlong and a half.

4.50 7f 32Red.com 3yo Handicap (Class 5)

SKYTRAIN’s persistence paid dividends in the final furlongs, the bias towards those at the front once again showing as the first two were always thereabouts. The winner is progressing steadily and seems suited by a sharpish track.

MOWHOOB, a maiden runner-up at Thirsk on Saturday, made the pace and stuck to his task well for two furlongs out. He was just held in the final furlong but went down fighting and looks good enough to pick up a similar event.

LA LUZ DEL SOL was the meat in the sandwich from two furlongs out until inside the final furlong, eventually giving way in the final 150 yards. He won nicely in a lower class at Catterick and would have every chance dropped back to a 0-60 or 0-65 event.

5.20 7f 32RedPoker Handicap (Class 6)

JEBEL TARA is clearly flying at the moment and, having been denied a run more than once, he came clear impressively in the final furlong. The fast pace set probably played into his hands, and he’ll go up a fair way in the ratings, but he is going well at the age of eight.

The whole field spent the length of the straight impeding each other, PTOLEMY coming through to take second. HAB REEH arguably had the clearest run of all but his effort over one out came to little in the closing stages.

GONINAODAETHAT went too fast for his own good, but is one who picks up lots of excuses and few wins.

NORTH CENTRAL went too quick early on. If he has a trip this may be it, but I gave up trying to fathom him a couple of seasons back!

PULL THE PIN disputed with Goninodaethat and weakened over a furlong out. His best form is over sprint distances and he is 211 over 6 furlongs at Southwell.