Horse racing: Red Tanber bids for foursome

JOCKEY Lucy Alexander will be the lassie to toast at Musselburgh’s Burns Day meeting today if she guides Red Tanber to another success.

The bookmakers have already been forced to pay out three times this winter on the Bruce Mactaggart-trained chestnut and a fourth win cannot be ruled out in the £6,000 Bunny Maitland-Carew Handicap Chase (3:40).

Red Tanber has forged a close rapport with Fifer Alexander and her 5lb allowance will help offset her mount’s significant rise up the handicaps as the course specialist goes up against top weight Heavenly Chorus.

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Ingleby Spirit will be a warm order to land the Tom McConnell Trophy (2:40) which remembers the popular Scottish racing journalist of the 1990s. Richard Fahey’s dual purpose gelding proved too smart for the promising Bowdler’s Magic at Musselburgh’s Christmas meeting and his flat race speed should again prove decisive.

The £10,000 Boogie In The Morning Handicap Hurdle has attracted a most competitive field, in which the value could lie with Dontpaytheferryman. Brian Ellison’s versatile performer failed to attract a bid after winning the seller at the last Musselburgh meeting, but the seven-year-old is better than the average plater and, back in the winning groove, will be fancied to build on his latest success.

Gates open at 11.30am and the first race of the six-card meeting is at 1:40pm.

The next race meeting at Musselburgh after today is the much-anticipated Scottish Cheltenham Trials Race Day on Sunday, 5 February.

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Meanwhile, in today’s evening meeting at Kempton, Dark Castle is one to watch.

He looked an animal of potential when losing his maiden tag last time and can make a successful first foray into handicap company.

Sylvester Kirk’s charge obviously did not follow his sire Dark Angel’s example of being a very forward juvenile, but he can make up for lost time now.

Raced just once at two, Dark Castle ran a bit better than the bare form figure of sixth would suggest as he patently did not enjoy the mile trip that day.

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Stepped back to six furlongs at Kempton last time, he really began to shine, racing prominently before taking it up two furlongs out and coming home a two-and-a-quarter-length victor.

Jellicle obviously lacks the ability of Grade One-winning half sibling It’s Tricky, but she should be good enough in the Free Entry For Betdaq Members Maiden Fillies’ Stakes. While she would not merit hefty support, a small wager could be rewarded.

Queen Of Denmark is a fascinating newcomer for Mark Johnston in the Betdaq Multiples Maiden Stakes.

Things have obviously not gone to plan with this filly as she is only now making her debut as a four-year-old. But her breeding, shows why connections have persevered.

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A daughter of Kingmambo, Queen Of Denmark is a half-sister to former Hong Kong superstar and Dubai Sheema Classic winner Vengeance Of Rain and if she has just a fraction of that kind of talent, she should be pretty smart.

Podgies Boy took some time to find his feet after returning from a lengthy spell off the track, but he should be respected in the Exclusive Live Shows At bluesq.com Handicap at Lingfield now he has regained winning form.Richard Fahey’s runner hit his stride at Southwell earlier this month when triumphing off a mark of 73.

The handicapper has been a little harsh in raising him 3lb for that half-length verdict, but Podgies Boy looked as though he might have won a shade cleverly and is one to stay on the right side of.

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