Alexander has a ball as snow holds off at Musselburgh

LUCY Alexander took the riding honours at Musselburgh where the first signs of winter were in attendance.

The meeting had to survive a morning inspection and snow could be seen on the tops of the surrounding hills in East Lothian, but Alexander will be delighted the weather held off enough to enable her to ride a 111.5-1 double. She struck first on Kealigolane (14-1) in the second division of the Buy Your 2012 Annual Members Badge Today Maiden Hurdle. The seven-year-old is now with Hugh McWilliams having switched from the care of Colm Murphy and it was no surprise he failed to offer any challenge to subsequent Royal Bond winner Sous Les Cieux on his last start in Ireland.

Kealigolane found this two-mile event much more to his liking though, as he made all to stroll home by 15 lengths from market leader Demolition. A hallmark of Alexander’s riding style is she appears to get her horses in a very good rhythm and Red Tanber jumped impeccably in winning the Scottish Racing Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Sent off at 13-2, Alexander tracked a strong pace before giving her mount the signal and he pulled clear to beat O Crotaigh by 12 lengths for Bruce Mactaggart.

Young claimer Grant Cockburn got a winning tune out of 3-1 shot Hurricane Jack in the visiteastlothian.org Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase. Trained by his boss Lucinda Russell, Cockburn sent the full-brother of stable star Silver By Nature into an early lead and he jumped his rivals into the ground.

“He really enjoyed it out in front and we got a nice soft lead. He was just filling himself up and saving a bit for himself,” said Cockburn.

“He jumped fantastically, that’s what wins him his races. I felt he wasn’t doing anything out in front but I wanted to take it up early enough and keep going. That’s my fifth winner under Rules. One on the Flat as an amateur, three over hurdles and that’s my first over fences. I had a few point-to-point winners and I’m at the right place in Lucinda’s as there’s Peter Scudamore and Peter Buchanan to learn off and keep me right. That’s my 10lb claim gone, I’m just claiming 7lb for everyone now,” he told Racing UK.

The feature race was won by Musselburgh regular Gordonsville (4-1) who just got up close home to win the Racing UK Handicap Hurdle. Having had a run on the level at Dundalk ten days ago, Jim Goldie’s dual-purpose performer survived a bad blunder at the second last to win for the second time over timber under Keith Mercer.