Horse Racing: Take a chance on Rothesay

Published on Wednesday 15 June 2011 12:27

RENFREWSHIRE trainer Jim Goldie can prove the toast of a big crowd on Ladies Day at Musselburgh tomorrow by landing a double on the East Lothian track.

Rothesay Chancer is a much- improved sprinter this term, winning his last two races on this track and he can complete the hat-trick in the M & F Funeral Services Handicap (3.35pm).

The gelding made the frame on a couple of occasions as a juvenile last term and began this campaign with a strong finish to claim the runner-up spot here in April on his reappearance.

He then ran on strongly in the closing stages to score over the minimum trip here before following up at the last meeting and, although he has climbed almost a stone in the ratings and now carries top weight, he can score again.

Goldie and jockey Gary Bartley can complete a quick double with Dazzling Light in thefollowing race, the HBJ Claim Solutions Handicap (4.10pm).

The mare was successful last spring at Chester and was later placed in a couple of good races at York. The six-year-old caught my eye when fourth in the Musselburgh Gold Cup on her reappearance on this track at Easter and has since run well again at York and at Chester and takes a drop in class here.

Oddsmaker is a real course specialist with half of his 12 career victories having come on the seaside circuit and, although he is now ten years old, he can score again here in the concluding Nicola Martin Lady Riders Handicap (5.20pm).

This genuine front-runner will have easy underfoot conditions to suit and made all the running when successful over a mile and three quarters here at the end of April. He probably found the 11-furlong trip too short when unplaced subsequently at Catterick and will appreciate the step back up in trip this time.

Badea showed plenty of promise when fourth on his debut at Haydock Park and can open his winning account in the Balfour Beatty Engineering Services Maiden Stakes (1.50pm). Richard Fahey's youngster cost 32,000 gunieas and is highly regarded at home in a yard full of decent juveniles. He got outpaced on the Lancashire track before staying on strongly. That was over six furlongs and this longer trip should be just up his street, especially as his half-brother was a winner over this distance as a juvenile.

Selections: 1.50 Badea; 3.35 Rothesay Chancer; 4.10 Dazzling Light; 5.20 Oddsmaker.