Horse Racing: Back filly for Mussy success before her new mark kicks in

Sangar was beaten a whisker at Musselburgh last week and can go one better when she returns to the East Lothian track tomorrow evening.

The filly showed promise as a juvenile and scored twice at around this time last summer with both victories at Ripon and York coming over ten furlongs.

The handicapper had his say afterwards and she was beaten off marks in the high 60s. This term began with a close third at Beverley in April before she flopped on this course when a well-backed favourite and stepped up to a mile and a half.

The four-year-old clearly failed to stay then and was immediately dropped back in trip, but was still beaten in her next three starts. As a result her handicap mark had dropped back to 63 and she ran really well over nine furlongs here last week.

She was conceding weight that day and the handicapper has put her up 3lbs for that effort, but the new mark does not kick in until Saturday, so trainer Ollie Pears has targeted tomorrow’s Ishares Handicap (7.20).

Her rider Mick McConnell can complete a double on Gibraltar Road in the concluding Wilkinsons & Associates Handicap (8.50).

The three-year-old did not cut much ice in two back-end maiden events over six furlongs last autumn and was ran much too free when fifth on his reappearance at Catterick on his reappearance. But he was much more tractable at Beverley recently where he came from off the pace to finish fourth from a wide draw and is clearly going the right way.

Berbice caught my eye when third her last week and can take the Tatty Banks Bags a Nag Tomorrow Handicap (7.50) for Scots trainer Linda Perratt.

The grey won twice on the all-weather at Wolverhampton last winter and only one of his four career wins have come on turf, but he is now down to a handy mark and came from way off the pace to make the frame last week.

That was his fourth start following a six-month break after that winter campaign on the sand. As long as he does not blow the start – he can be slowly away – I reckon the gelding can pop up at good odds this time.

Cadgers Brig’s only success so far came on the sand at Wolverhampton, but he has been running well since returning to the turf, finishing in the frame in all four of his starts this summer.

The gelding was third at Hamilton, on this track and at Ayr before finishing a close second on the latter track last week. Keith Dalgleish has his string in good form and has booked the services of top amateur rider Simon Walker for the four-year-old in the Blackrock Amateur Riders Handicap (6.10).

Selections: 6.10 Cadgers Brig; 7.20 Sangar; 7.50 Berbice; 8.50 Gibraltar Road