Perratt set for a busy day at Musselburgh

LINDA Perratt will be a busy girl at Musselburgh this afternoon as the Lanarkshire trainer is set to saddle seven runners from her yard on the outskirts of East Kilbride.

First up are Royal Straight and Silver Rime in the 32Red Casino Handicap and their handler said: “They both ran at Musselburgh’s last meeting and they should both come on for the run. The better ground should help as the rain got in that day and turned it soft. Silver Rime prefers good ground while Royal Straight likes it faster. Royal Straight won a couple for us at Ayr summer and, though Silver Rime hasn’t won for a wee while, he’s slipped to a competitive mark.”

Perratt is also double-handed in the Turcan Connell Handicap with Geanie Mac and Schmooze and she added: “Schmooze has done well since coming to us and she won a little handicap at Wolverhampton last back-end. Geanie Mac is having only her fifth race for us and she was second at Musselburgh last September over two miles. Both should run okay but will come on for the run.”

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The Scottish trainer made a similar comment about Findog in the 32Red.com Handicap and said: “He was third over course and distance on his only run so far for us last summer. Like a lot of our horses he will appreciate warmer weather and a little sun on his back.”

The final Perratt runners are Berbice and Mr Khan in the concluding 32RedPoker.com Handicap and their handler said: “I could see Berbice going well as he needed the race at Musselburgh. It was his first start for six months and he should strip a lot fitter this time.”

Meanwhile, Aidan O’Brien made it four Classic wins in a week at the weekend. Hot on the heels of Ruler Of The World and Magician winning at Chester, Nevis added to the haul in the Betfred Derby Trial at Lingfield, while arguably the stable’s biggest hope, Battle Of Marengo, got the job done, albeit in workmanlike style, in the Derrinstown Stud Trial at Leopardstown.

Battle Of Marengo had to get a reminder from a relatively animated Joseph O’Brien in yesterday’s feature and in the end was pushed out to beat Loch Garman by a length and three-quarters.

Coral, Ladbrokes and William Hill kept Battle Of Marengo at his respective pre-trial price for the Investec Derby on 1 June, but Stan James were more impressed and cut the winner to 4-1 second-favourite behind Dawn Approach.

O’Brien said: “That all went to plan. We had to go on with him or it would have been a very steady pace. He has just ticked over since the last day. He is lazy in front but he gave a good blow afterwards. He loves fast ground as he is a great mover.”

Saturday’s Lingfield race was robbed of its main attraction, the Luca Cumani-trained Greatwood, at the last minute due to the ground but Nevis was thoroughly impressive in winning by nine lengths in testing conditions.