Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Musselburgh, York and Chester on Saturday. View selections below.
KIMBERELLA (3.45) was one of the unluckiest losers of the season in the Epsom Dash last weekend, losing a lot of ground when blowing the start, but he found wings inside the final furlong to almost snatch a very improbable victory.
Quick compensation may be at hand in the £62,000 Scottish Sprint Cup at Musselburgh and Lady Luck has smiled on Dandy Nicholls’ sprinter with a rails draw in stall 17. Rain is expected in the Edinburgh area which would also be a bonus.
Kimberella is normally a fast starter, as witnessed in last summer’s Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon when making all up the stands’ rail only to be pipped by Don’t Touch, the subsequent Ayr Gold Cup winner. The ground was soft that day and there was plenty of juice in the Epsom track last Saturday. Kimberella is now a pound lower so, should the rain arrive, everything is in place for a big run.
Duke Of Firenze finished behind Kimberalla in third and is worse off at the weights. However, he didn’t enjoy a smooth run through and can be marked up a little. He can hit the frame from stall nine.
Hughie Morrison has prospects of saddling a double with SWEET SELECTION (2.35) and CATALAN (4.20).
Sweet Selection is a fast improving filly since being stepped up from 10 furlongs to staying trips. She fairly routed her rivals over two miles at Nottingham, moving to the front two furlongs out and easing clear. Sweet Selection had earlier returned from a break to finish fourth to dour stayer Rayvin Black at Goodwood and she probably has Impulsive American to beat.
CATALAN (4.20) is another filly on the upgrade after handing out a beating to Ed Dunlop’s odds-on shot Archimento at Redcar. The assessor has awarded Catalan a mark of 78 and the way she powered to the front from halfway suggests she is up to the task.
Push Me appears at face value to be in the handicapper’s grip as the Hamilton winner is now 9lb higher. However, the horse she beat that day, Jacbequick, scored at Beverley on Wednesday off a higher rating.
Top weight Home Cummins has been dropped in grade by Richard Fahey after a solid effort at Haydock and should go well under young McNamara.
The Queen Mother’s Cup, a 1m 4f handicap for lady amateur riders, opens proceedings at York and NAYEL (1.50) has the services of Katie Walsh in the saddle.
Nayel was a very plucky winner over York’s extended 10-furlong distance at the Dante fixture, holding off the useful Pacify and Erik The Red. Course form is always an advantage on the Knavesmire and Nayel isn’t too badly drawn in stall 10.
At Chester, course winner TRENDSETTER (2.50) should appreciate the drop into Class 4 company after a disappointing effort behind Serena Grae on his last visit to the Roodee.
Trendsetter was a well-backed second favourite that day but pulled too hard and was a spent force in the straight. He beat Gabriel The Great here 12 months ago and Sean Levey should be able to adopt a stalking role from stall two.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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