Musselburgh
3.30pm
Leeshaan
I’m not sure what happened to him at Carlisle last time – maybe the soft ground didn’t help – but presumably all is well with him now. He would certainly have claims off this mark on his two previous efforts, and quick ground suits, and a draw in four is decent.
4.40pm
Hydroplane
We also had Land Of Oz in here at the five-day stage but Hydroplane is a not a bad alternative for this valuable prize. It was a little disappointing to see his winning run come to an end at Kempton last time but the winner is a lightly-raced and progressive sort in his own right. The longer trip is not sure to suit on pedigree but it is worth chancing on his run-style, as he hasn’t been stopping over 1m4f. And hopefully he still has improvement in him, with the visor replacing the cheek pieces.
5.15pm
Exchequer
He was obviously well below his best at Thirsk last time, but hopefully the class-drop into a 0-60 will see him run a lot better. He is thrown in on his all-weather form – he finished a close third to Embour at Kempton in May off no less than a 30lb higher mark than this – but it is true to say he hasn’t shown much on turf for quite a while.
6.15pm
Grey Spirit
He was well below par under a 5lb penalty at Haydock last time, and maybe that race came too soon after his Epsom win on quick ground just eight days earlier. He ran flat there, so he has had a break since and, although 6lb higher than at Epsom, he has chances to get back on track off the ceiling mark of 82 in this 0-80. This better ground will suit, a draw in five is okay, and we also try him in first-time cheek pieces.
6.45pm
Battle Of Waterloo
He went up 6lb for winning at Chelmsford in July but he has continued to run well in defeat, including over 7f here last time, and he is nicely drawn in three. The 1m1f trip is an unknown though, and all his best efforts to date have come over 7f, so that’s a concern. He is another of mine to get first-time cheek pieces.
7.15pm
Spenny’s Lass
She doesn’t look to hold an obvious chance after her well-beaten effort over 7f here last time but she has come down further in the weights for it, and she did finish a good fourth off a considerably higher mark than this over this trip at Wolverhampton last October.
