Horse Racing: Get into bed with Pyjama Game at Musselburgh

Published on Monday 14 February 2011 10:59

Jockey Graham Lee has an impressive record at Musselburgh and looks the man to follow on the East Lothian track tomorrow.

Lee has a 15 per cent strike rate on the seaside circuit in the last five years and has booted home half a dozen winne

rs from just 18 rides here so far this winter. But punters may have to wait until the concluding event - the CMYK Digital Solutions National Hunt Flat race (4.50pm) for the best bet on the card when he partners Pyjama Game The gelding went into many notebooks as a certain future winner after finishing second on his racecourse debut in a similar race on this track a month ago when he chased home the smart Jukebox Melody, who was ridden by Lee, who is a previous winner and is highly rated by connections.

Pyjama Game finished well clear of the third horse that day and will have learnt from the experience. A half-brother to a dual winner on the level, he cost 46,000 euros and can open his account here.

Lee can initiate a double on Soprano who can hit the right note in the Weatherbys Private Banking Handicap Hurdle (2.20pm).

The gelding was successful three times on the level in Germany in his younger days before winning over hurdles and fences for Jonjo O'Neill, but has had a chequered career since his last victory in a novice chase almost two years ago.

The nine-year-old was off the track for almost a year before joining Glasgow trainer Jim Goldie and hinted at recapturing his best form when third on this track last month. Partnered for the first time by Lee - who has a good record for the trainer - he was quietly back at long odds, and he stayed on well at the business end of things.

King Fingal had useful form on the level and showed promise when fifth on his hurdling debut before winning on this track last month. when he was left clear at the final hurdle. The gelding was far from disgraced when favourite and fourth in a competitive event at Doncaster in the interim and can regain winning ways in the Weatherbys Wealth Planning Handicap Hurdle (3.50pm). Border Reiver could finish only fourth here last month but can recoup those losses over the same 2.5-mile trip in the NSPCC Schools Services Novices Handicap Chase (4.20pm) when the softer ground should suit.

The gelding is a winner over hurdles and was placed twice over fences before opening his account over the larger obstacles in good style at Wetherby early in the New Year. The seven-year-old has never fallen in 22 starts to date and can make his experience tell.

Joe Rowntree's Musselburgh selections: 2.20 Soprano; 4.20 Border Reiver; 4.50 Pyjama Game.