Gowanbuster trying to repeat Musselburgh sprint win

Course and distance specialists line up for handicap

Jockey Paul Mulrennan will try to guide Gowanbuster to victory at Musselburgh. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty

There is plenty of solid Musselburgh form on show in the Join Racing TV Now Handicap, one of eight races behind closed doors at the East Lothian venue today.

Eleven speedsters line-up for the five-furlong dash and only two have yet to register a career strike over course and distance.

Gowanbuster is the most recent to enter the Musselburgh winners’ enclosure after a three and a half length romp ten days ago.

Trained at Otterburn by Susan Corbett, he was sired by Bahri, a stallion his handler used to stand when she operated a stud at her Northumberland stable. Gowanbuster has been raised 8lb for his first victory on turf and is reunited with his bang-in-form jockey Paul Mulrennan.

Veteran Economic Crisis, a late absentee on her most recent intended visit, is a five-time course winner, with Royal Brave also boasting the same number of track victories.

Another heading into the race in great order is is Eric Alston’s Preston raider Boudica Bay, who scorched home by three lengths at Redcar and is partnered by Ayrshire-born David Allan.

Night Moment is likely to be a warm favourite for the opening British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Auction Stakes. Trained by British racing’s winning-most handler Mark Johnston, the colt spreadeagled the field when scorching home over the same seven-furlong trip nine-days ago.

William Carson, grandson of legendary five-time champion Flat jockey Willie Carson, has his first course ride in over five years on Harbour Front in the Up And Running On Racing TV Handicap.

Carson, who also partners Deeds Not Words in the classified stakes at 4.55pm, has been to Musselburgh several times before with his thirteen previous mounts yielding a solitary winner.

Harbour Front, saddled by Nottinghamshire trainer Robyn Brisland, was a close second on his handicap debut at Southwell in February and steps up to two miles as he tackles turf for the first time.

The main danger could come in the shape of Clearance, representing Iain Jardine and Graham Lee.

A winning hurdler when with Gary Moore, he won twice for new connections last year and shaped well on his reappearance at Beverley a month ago.

Phillip Makin rode 68 winners at Musselburgh during his time as a jockey and he could open his course account as a trainer with Yorkshire Pirlo in the British Stallion Studs EBF Median Auction Maiden Stakes over five-furlongs.

Pipped by just under a length on his debut at Redcar, he could go close again dropping in trip from that promising start over six-furlongs.

Makin, who sent three runners to Musselburgh last year – his first with a licence – is now based near Thirsk and is also represented by Jungle Inthebungle in the Watch On Racing TV Handicap.

At Newmarket, Terebellum looks to have been found a gilt-edged opportunity to register a first Group One success in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes.

John Gosden’s filly put up a huge performance at Royal Ascot when narrowly denied by the rock-solid Circus Maximus in the Queen Anne Stakes. Gosden felt she was up to beating the boys on that occasion and, while she found Aidan O’Brien’s charge too good, the winning margin was only a head.

There is nothing of Circus Maximus’ class here, and the biggest threat is stablemate Nazeef – winner of five of her six races but needing to progress again.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. Visit https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director