Gelding can secure another Musselburgh victory on Ladies Day

Amazing KING loves the sea air at Musselburgh and can land another victory at the East Lothian track’s Ladies Day meeting tomorrow.

The gelding has netted half of his ten career victories on this circuit – three on the flat and two over hurdles – and looks set to score again in the HBJ Employment Solutions Ladies Day Cup (4.00).

His latest victory came over this course and distance almost three weeks ago when he produced a fine late effort to lead inside the final furlong with Golden Future a couple of lengths back in third place. The latter re-opposes tomorrow on 4lb better terms, so there should not be much in it, but Amazing King’s course record just sways me in his favour.

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The eight-year-old had disappointed in two runs over jumps in the spring, but those outings were plainly needed after a five-month break and trainer Phil Kirby has his small team in good form.

Punters are facing a bumper eight-race card but Silvanus is another with a fine record on this track and the gelding can score again in the opening Jenners & Frasers Handicap (Div 1).

His latest victory last week came over a stiff five furlongs at Leicester, but three of his seven career wins have come over this sharp five furlongs and he was runner-up in a competitive heat here early last month. He has top weight, but apprentice Ned Curtis will reduce the burden with a handy 7lb claim.

Lean on Pete cost 135,000 guineas as a yearling and showed some promise in two runs last term as a juvenile, but has shaped much better this year after being switched to Ollie Pears at Malton.

The gelding was fifth at Catterick and then third at Wolverhampton where he was sent off a well-backed favourite. That was over 7f and Pears then stepped him up a quarter of a mile on a return visit to the all-weather surface.

A heavily supported favourite again, he looked to have the race sewn up when storming around the field to take a decisive advantage on the home turn, but his young rider had gone too soon and was caught in the final 100 yards. He can recoup the losses in the HBJ Claim Solutions Handicap (2.20) when Graham Lee takes the ride.

Sandwith completed a hat-trick of victories at Hamilton last week after scoring on that track and here at Musselburgh in May, but his successful run may come to an end in the Jenners & Frasers Handicap (Div 11) (3.25) in which I prefer the chances of Wicked Wilma.

The mare won four times last summer and has shown signs of coming back to that sort of form, especially when third at the last meeting here. She is still a couple of pounds above her last winning mark, but will appreciate any rain which comes along to ease the ground.

Joe Rowntree’s selections: 1.20 Silvanus; 2.20 Lean on Pete; 3.25 Wicked Wilma; 4.00 Amazing King.