Horse Racing: Gelding can add to impressive CV at Musselburgh

Published on Wednesday 6 October 2010 11:54

SIR GEORGE has been a model of consistency since joining trainer Ollie Pears this year - and can collect more prize money at Musselburgh tomorrow.

The five-year-old has won four times, been runner-up on six occasions, and has not been out of the frame in 13 starts since Pears claimed him for just 5,000 after he finished third in a seller at Lingfield early in January.

Since then the gelding has climbed some 21lb in the ratings with victories at Wolverhampton, Catterick, Haydock and Ripon, and he could be rated unlucky when runner-up at Chester last time when he was hampered on the home turn before staying on strongly.

Seven furlongs around the sharp Musselburgh track will play to the strengths of this strong travelling type who will again have Barry McHugh - on board for all four recent wins - claiming a valuable 3lb allowance in the Gordon & Halliday Flooring Handicap (5.10pm)

Pears has his long term sights set on the Spring Mile at Doncaster next March, a race which was won two years ago by Sir George's half-brother Don't Panic.

Pears may well score a double with Noodles Blue Boy in the Dundas & Wilson Handicap (3.30pm) over the minimum trip of five furlongs.

The gelding has won six times for Pears since being bought for just 6,500 guineas as a yearling. He scored at Beverley in the spring and battled on gamely to prevail in a three-way photo finish on his latest outing at Leicester, while he was also runner-up three times in midsummer. All his wins have been on stiffer tracks, but he showed lots of speed at Leicester where he made much of the running.

Conducting caught my eye on his debut at Newbury last month, even though he could finish only eighth and the colt can make the long trek from Brian Meehan's Manton yard pay off in the opening EBF Maiden Stakes (2.20).

The colt is a half-brother to two good winners who both scored on easy ground, so he should not be troubled by the underfoot conditions. Dandy Nicholls and his jockey son Adrian have an outstanding record on the seaside circuit and can add to their tally with Sonny Red in the Pippin She's Only after your Money Claiming Stakes (4.40pm).

The six-year-old was bought for just 5000 guineas out of Richard Hannon's yard at the end of 2008 and scored twice last year at Nottingham and Ascot.

He has not managed to get his head in front this time around, but showed he is still more than capable when a close second in the Ayr Silver Cup last month. He lost all chance with a slow start at Haydock on his latest outing, but takes a steep drop in class here and can give weight away all round.

Joe Rowntree's Musselburgh selections: 2.20 Conducting; 3.30 Noodles Blue Boy; 4.40 Sonny Red; 5.10 Sir George