D-day arrives for Musselburgh

Published on Friday 4 May 2007 00:42

WHATEVER the stage past critical is, multi-million pound plans to build a new all-weather track at Musselburgh have now reached it.

Originally given the go-ahead by East Lothian Council over a year ago, the 12 million scheme was called in by the Scottish Executive in April 2006, and after a month-long inquiry, the final decision was left in the hands of Executive reporter Philip Hutchinson.

The Scotsman understands that crucial decision has now been made, but won't be revealed to the public until the various loose ends of a process that has taken years to reach a conclusion have been tied up.

On how long that takes could well depend whether or not Scotland's first artificial racing surface becomes a reality, because if the dream of staging Musselburgh's opening Polytrack meeting in September 2008 is to be achieved, officials have only weeks left in which to bid for the necessary fixtures.

"A delay of another month would be catastrophic for us and could even jeopardise the whole project," admitted racecourse manager Bill Farnsworth.

"There's going to be four floodlit cards per week for a six-month winter period and, at the moment, we would be the fourth floodlit track to be built. Were there only four fixtures at stake, we wouldn't like to be fifth in line.

"Should the decision go against us, that's it, but it may be that it is approved subject to certain conditions so we would need time to digest those, estimate their cost, and determine if the idea was still feasible.

"As far as Musselburgh Racecourse is concerned, we have said all we can, and hopefully, everyone appreciates the situation and the urgency of the time-scale we're working to. It's vital we get a definitive outcome by the end of May."

Punters could spend from now until then trying to work out today's card at the East Lothian circuit and still not be guaranteed to get to the bottom of it because tricky doesn't even scratch the surface.

The main event is the DM Hall Conditions Stakes in which The Tatling is only one of several interesting contenders who'll fight it out for the 20,000 purse. Bought out of a Catterick claimer in 2002, the gelding has since gone on to compete all over the world at the highest level of sprinting, and if things fall right, The Tatling could easily add another few noughts to the six- figure sum he's already amassed for his Scottish owners.

While he continues to run well however, it's now about two years since he last won and he may again find the younger legs of some of his rivals too quick for him. Jim Goldie's River Falcon had The Tatling back in third when going down by a head to Green Manalishi at Newbury last time out and he can confirm that superiority in an event that David Nicholls has four runners.

Goldie can also hit the bullseye with Frank Crow, who disappointed at Pontefract on his latest start, but who had earlier run well when going down to Emerald Bay over today's course and distance. Paul Hanagan, his jockey that day, seems to get on particularly well with the lightly-raced gelding and he's back in the plate here so expect Frank Crow to produce a much better show.

As last month's course and distance success demonstrated, Kristensen loves Musselburgh so his chances in the long distance handicap shouldn't be underestimated, but there wasn't a lot between him and Danzatrice when the pair clashed here last summer and, in receipt of a stone, Chris Thornton's mare is favoured.

Violent Velocity ran out a cosy winner at Catterick last week and as that was an apprentice event, he escapes a penalty in the finale. From a good draw, John Quinn's colt looks Musselburgh's best bet, though nationwide, Sunday City is the one to be on. Donald McCain's runner keeps on going close without quite managing to get there, but he looks to have been presented with the key to success at Bangor this evening.

TEOFILO COSTS PUNTERS MILLIONS

ANTE-POST punters were reeling yesterday after the withdrawal of Teofilo from tomorrow's Stan James 2,000 Guineas has made this year's Classic one of the most expensive ever in doomed pre-race bets.

Jim Bolger's stable star will miss the big race at Newmarket after suffering a setback. But coming hard on the heels of the withdrawal of Holy Roman Emperor, bookmakers have cleaned up before the race has even been run. Coral estimate Teofilo's late withdrawal will cost ante-post punters over 2million in lost stakes.

"This is undoubtedly the worst ante-post disaster for punters for decades both in terms of the sums of money lost and the awful timing of the defection," said spokesman Simon Clare.

"Ante-post stakes on Teofilo at Coral were well into six figures and industry-wide, over 2million will have been wagered on Teofilo from last summer up until yesterday evening."

Last season's champion two-year-old was found to have some soreness at the back of his off-fore knee.

The problem first flared up about a fortnight ago but Bolger was able work Teofilo again last week and the colt seemed back on course for Newmarket.

Ladbrokes now make Adagio their 11-4 favourite and French raider US Ranger a 9-2 shot.

"The momentum was with Jim Bolger's colt," said spokesman David Williams. "Coupled with Holy Roman Emperor's withdrawal earlier this year, it's the ultimate double-whammy.

"It's the most bitter of pills to swallow for ante-post punters."