Horse Racing: Ewart Aiks for victory

Published on Wednesday 9 February 2011 12:36

Scottish trainer James Ewart has a high opinion of Aikman and the gelding can net his first victory over hurdles at Musselburgh tomorrow.

The seven-year-old was unbeaten in three point-to-point races after coming to this country from Ireland and made a successful debut under rules when romping home in a national hunt flat race at Perth last spring.

Not surprisingly he was sent off favourite when making his hurdling bow here in the middle of last month and he looked set to justify the confidence as he led the field a merry dance. A mistake at the third from home saw him headed briefly, but he was back in the lead again when falling at the penultimate obstacle.

He looked set to recoup those losses on a return visit to the East Lothian track last week when he was in the lead when a mistake at the final hurdle took the wind out of his sails and he was headed and beaten on the run-in.

Those efforts were over the ,minimum two miles and he will appreciate the extra half mile in tomorrow's Watch UK racing Live at Racing UK Novices Hurdle (4.45pm).

Ewart has given him entries in three of the major novice events at next month's Cheltenham Festival and a clear-cut victory tomorrow can earn a trip to the big meeting.

Alderley Rover has been runner-up in three of his races so far over fences and can go one better in the Turf TV Beginner's Chase (2.25pm).

The grey has one hurdles victory in his CV, beating a large field at Aintree last spring and he was fourth on his chase debut on his reappearance at Carlisle in October before finishing second when favourite at Haydock.

Since then he has been sixth in a big field for a competitive affair at Newbury and runner-up at Hereford and Market Rasen, so definitely deserves a change of luck.

Festival King was badly injured at Ayr early in 2009 and spent 18 months on the sidelines, but has made a courageous comeback and regained the winning thread when making all the running to score on that same track ten days ago.

The gelding had been runner-up on his return to action at Sedgefield in September and was then placed at Kelso and Ayr before finishing second here at Musselburgh last month, so has clearly retained all his old ability.

Tamanco has winning form on the level and can make a successful start to his hurdling career in the opening Turf TV Juvenile Hurdle (1.55pm).

The four-year-old was succesfsul over sprint distrances as a two-year-old and scored over ten furlongs last summer.

He loves the mud and both his wins on the level came in soft ground, so he should have underfoot conditions to his liking, while this sharp track does not put too much strain on stamina.

Joe Rowntree's Musselburgh selections: 1.55 Tamanaco; 2.25 Alderley Rover;4.10 Festival King; 4.45 Aikman.