Good to soft ground for Musselburgh’s seven-race card.
Broadway Joe (1.15) is unbeaten in two starts over fences and can land the hat-trick from a 7lbs higher mark than when scoring over C&D last month. Brian Hughes takes over in the saddle with regular pilot Danny McMenamin on the sidelines.
The obvious danger is Just Call Me Al who is rated 10lbs lower over fences than he is over hurdles and ran his best race yet over the larger obstacles when second at Carlisle over the minimum trip at Carlisle last weekend. Today’s additional half-mile will suit.
In the 3m handicap chase Tokaramore is another who has won his last couple of starts and he will have his supporters as he aims to give Ailsa McClung a first winner under Rules. His recent victories have come over two-and-a-half miles on good ground, but he gets three miles well enough and must have every chance.
Rapid Raider (2.45) is another stepping up in trip to three miles in search of his hat-trick having scored at Bangor (2m 1f+) and Ayr (2m 4f+) in recent weeks for Lucinda Russell who had another Saturday winner at Haydock at the weekend.
The selection is 7lbs higher than for his latest success and while he must prove his stamina, he did win his sole point over three miles in his native Ireland. He would in all probability have finished second had Clondaw Promise not come down at the last, but that horse is now rated 120 for Jonjo O’Neill and Rapid Raider could still be ahead of his current mark of 93.
The maiden Colonel Keating has been put in very short in the betting in the 3m handicap chase at Lingfield and he ran a couple of terrific races here last season although he did pull up on his seasonal reappearance. The vote goes to the 17-race maiden Silver Nickel (1.30) who has been dropped 3lbs for finishing fourth over today’s C&D in what looked a stronger race last time. He had bits of form over hurdles which suggest he could be well treated over the larger obstacles.
In the 2m handicap chase I expect to see Fearless (2.30) go one better than when runner up at Ayr behind a subsequent winner at Ayr under Fergus Gregory. The selection certainlyhas the scope for fences, and he has been dropped a pound for what I thought was a satisfactory chase debut. I would hope to see his jockey ride him more prominently than was the case in Scotland.