Horse Racing: Motivado sure to work

Published on Wednesday 1 June 2011 12:48

Motivado got his second season off to a great start when scoring on his reappearance at Ripon recently and he looks a solid bet at Musselburgh tomorrow.

Sir Mark Prescott's three-year-old has top weight in the Tradesman's Derby Handicap (4.25pm) on the opening stage of Musselburgh's biggest fixture of the summer, but he certainly looks up to the task.

A 65,000 guineas yearling, he is a giant son of Epsom Derby winner Motivator and showed plenty of promise when making the frame in three outings as a juvenile.

He was fourth on his debut in easy ground at Newcastle in September before finishing third at Lingfield and then runner-up over seven furlongs at Wolverhampton in November. A half-brother to three winning milers, he has plenty of stamina in his pedigree, too, and stepped up to ten furlongs on his return to action last month.

He was a well-backed favourite and gave his supporters some anxious moments as he played up at the start, but it was simply through freshness and although he was denied a clear run for much of the home straight, once he saw daylight he put matters beyond doubt in ready style.

He beat two previous winners, so the form looks rock solid and I will be surprised if he cannot follow up despite a 6lb hike in the ratings.

Golden Future overcame some training problems to score over obstacles last June and followed up with a victory on the level on the East Lothian track the following month when he made virtually all the running.

He later finished third here, too, and caught my eye when third at Newcastle recently. He runs off a mark of 52 in the Cruden Group handicap (5.00) - the same as when scoring here last summer and with useful apprentice Declan Cannon claiming an additional 3lb, he appeals as a fair wager.

Jim Goldie has his string in fine shape and Rothesay Chancer can follow up a recent course and distance victory by scoring again in the Racing UK Handicap (5.35).

The three-year-old was runner-up on this track in April before opening his winning account in good style at the last meeting here under Gary Bartley, who again takes the mount.

Pint Size is well named, being on the small side, but he could prove a bargain as he cost only 800gns in spite of being a half-brother to five winners.

The David Nicholls-trained youngster was runner-up at Thirsk recently when he led for a long way and may well have prevailed had he not hung left in the closing stages.

He can go one better in the Bruce Stevenson insurance Brokers Selling Stakes (3.10pm).

Musselburgh selections: 3.10 Pint Size; 4.25 Motivado; 5.00 Golden Future; 5.35 Rothesay Chancer