Canny Kool has character to succeed at Musselburgh

With more than £90,000 prize money on a seven-race card, Musselburgh hopes to attract a healthy crowd to mark its final Flat meeting of the season this afternoon.
Borderlescott is one of the attractions at Musselburgh today. Picture: John GrossickBorderlescott is one of the attractions at Musselburgh today. Picture: John Grossick
Borderlescott is one of the attractions at Musselburgh today. Picture: John Grossick

The British Stallions Stud EBF Conditions Stakes (3.00) is the first of two £15,000 races and Tom Dascombe sends the dual Chester winner Showing Character north from his Cheshire base, but Richard Kingscote’s mount has not built on his early successes and Canny Kool is preferred. Tom Eaves retains the ride on Brian Ellison’s front runner, which has improved with each of his three races and made all the running over Beverley’s five furlongs to win comfortably on his last appearance.

Kingscote is, however, napped to score on Mark Johnston’s course and distance winner Staffhoss in the seller.

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The Betfair Scottish Stayers Series Final (3.35), also worth £15,000 in prize money, sees Uplawmoor trainer Jim Goldie pile in with six entries. The in-form veteran Dhaular Dhar, beaten a short head by Stanarley Pic at Hamilton last week, certainly deserves a change of luck but at 12 years of age, he could be vulnerable. In form Alan Swinbank runs dual course winner Giovanni Jack and the Alistair Whillans-trained Vittachi appeals off his current mark in the handicap.

The Graphic Impressions 21st Anniversary Conditions Stakes (4.15), a Class 2 contest over 5f carries a purse of £20,000 with the entries headed by grand old sprinter Borderlescott. Robin Bastiman’s dual Nunthorpe Stakes hero would seem to have lost a little of his cutting edge this season but this cannot be said of Tangerine Trees. Bryan Smart’s former Prix de l’Abbaye winner finished a close fourth behind Kingsgate Native on his most recent outing in Listed company at Beverley and with the Smart team enjoying a purple 
patch, the nine-year-old can regain the winning touch.

The Willie Park Trophy (4.50), the second of the £20,000 races staged during Final’s Day, provides leading Musselburgh trainer Johnston the opportunity to confirm his position at the head of the table with top weight Swivel. The three-year-old made all the running in better company at Haydock last time and can concede the weight to the 
consistent Thorntoun Care from Goldie’s yard.

With engineering works taking place there are no trains between Edinburgh and Wallyford, however Musselburgh are providing a free bus from Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, leaving at 12.15pm and 1.15pm and returning to the city centre at 5.15pm and 6.15pm.

Groovejet can take within her stride a step up in trip by claiming the Betfred Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

Peter Chapple-Hyam’s three-year-old is in excellent form following a five-length second in the Group Two Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster, after which her official mark was boosted to 101. However, due to the entry system, Groovejet will be lining up off a perch of 96 which gives her 5lb start on some of her main rivals and makes her a leading player.

With the very capable Franny Norton in the plate, she has plenty in her favour and can make hay from near the foot of the weights.

Future Empire can strike in the Betfred Goals Galore Autumn Stakes. The Saeed bin Suroor-trained colt was only narrowly denied in the Solario Stakes by the much more experienced Aktabantay, going down by a short head right on the line. A son of New Approach, he claimed a maiden on the July Course earlier in the season and with that race producing five subsequent winners, the form appears suitably strong.

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Supplicant showed signs of a revival when second to the reopposing Spinatrix at Ripon and he can emerge on top in the Coral Sprint Trophy at York.

Richard Fahey thought plenty of the colt last term and he lived up to expectations when winning the Mill Reef before going on to turn in a creditable run in the Middle Park Stakes. Tried over seven furlongs on his return in the Greenham, Supplicant finished stone last behind Kingman and has had plenty on his plate since as his rating has slowly fallen from a high of 110 at the start of the year. Back to a mark of 95 at Ripon, Supplicant was beaten just a head by Spinatrix and has an extra 1lb in hand this time as he tries to reverse the form.

Dawalan has failed to build on his early promise but can get his career back on track in the ASCF Big Buck’s Bob Champion Cancer Trust Hurdle at Chepstow.

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