Horse Racing: Lee ready to enhance Musselburgh record

TRAINER Ferdy Murphy and his stable jockey Graham Lee have a good record at Musselburgh and can land a double when racing returns to the East Lothian track tomorrow.

The last four fixtures on the seaside track succumbed to the recent Arctic weather, but no problems are reported for tomorrow's meeting when Seize looks a decent bet to improve his already solid record here.

The gelding has raced four times at Musselburgh, winning once, finishing second twice and third on his only other visit to the Scottish circuit.

His success came just over two years ago and he suggested that his winning turn may not be far away again when finishing second over three miles here in December. That was over fences and his previous victory here also came over the larger obstacles, but he has been placed twice here over hurdles and the switch back to timber should prove no inconvenience in the Cosmic Case Handicap Hurdle (3.10pm).

Murphy and Lee can initiate the double with Archdale Lady in the Toteplacepot Mares Novices Hurdle (1.10pm). The six-year-old grey makes her debut over hurdles but has shown some promise in four runs so far in bumpers. She is bred to appreciate this step up in trip and can pop up at nice odds. Jim Goldie is another with an excellent record on this track and can send his supporters home happy by saddling Instant Shot to win the Racing UK Conditional Jockeys Handicap Chase (2.10pm).

The gelding has yet to win a race and showed only a little promise over hurdles, while he did not cut much ice in his first two races over fences last spring.

But the seven-year-old caught my eye when fourth on his reappearance on this track early last month and then ran really well when second at Newcastle last Saturday.

The gelding moved smoothly through the field to hold every chance all the way up the home straight and an extra half mile tomorrow should be in his favour. He had dropped 11lb in the ratings before that latest effort, runs off the same mark tomorrow and has clearly found his right level.

Chester Lad ran really well when second on his debut on this track and can go one better in the concluding Watch racing UK Online National Hunt Flat race (4.10pm).

The five-year-old was sent off a 25-1 chance here six weeks ago and looked beaten when getting outpaced shortly after turning for home, but he rallied to great effect and, in the end, was beaten only the minimum margin by an Irish challenger with some useful form to his credit.

Chester Lad will have learned from that experience, comes from a stable which does well in these events and looks worth following.

Joe Rowntree's Musselburgh selections: 1.40 Archdale Lady; 2.10 Instant Shot; 3.10 Seize; 4.10 Chester Lad.