Just Paul can be best of three for Kirby

PHIL Kirby saddles three runners today at Musselburgh, a track where the Middleham trainer has a 30 per cent strike rate in the past five seasons.

Phil Kirby: Three runners. Picture: John Grossick

In the feature race, the £20,000 Investec Wealth And Investment Handicap, he is represented by Just Paul, who faces seven rivals. Kirby’s assistant, former trainer Kate Walton, said: “He loves Musselburgh and it’s a big plus that’s he’s won three times over course and distance. It’s a competitive race but he’s in off a nice low weight.”

Among Just Paul’s rivals are fellow course winners Newstead Abbey and Silver Rime, trained by David Barron and Linda Perratt respectively.

The first Kirby runner is juvenile newcomer Forgiving Glance in the opening EBF Stallions Purvis Group Maiden Stakes.

Walton added: “It’s her first race and she will come on a ton for the race. She’s quite a nice filly and it will be good experience for her.”

The Sharp Hill Farm’s final runner is Catherine Walton-Perennial in the concluding James Donaldson & Sons Ltd Lady Amateur Riders’ Handicap.

Mrs Walton said: “We’ve got a very good jockey and conditions should suit. We tried him over hurdles on his most recent run but he was a bit novicey. He’s in very good heart.”

At York, on the opening afternoon of the two-day fixture, Mar Mar can claim the spotlight in the BetBright For Your World Cup Bets Choose EBF Nominated Fillies’ Stakes.

The four-year-old may only have one win in 16 starts to her credit but she is rarely out of the frame, finishing second or third on a further seven occasions after the last couple of seasons.