Racing: Lee can be one for the ladies at Musselburgh

The East Lothian track is celebrating its eighth successive sell-out for this ever popular fixture and the Grand National-winning rider turned successful Flat racer Graham Lee could prove a big hit with the ladies.

Lee rode plenty of winners for Jim Goldie over the jumps and has already extended that profitable association on the level, so he will be a warm order to land the feature race of the afternoon – the £12,000 HBJ Employment Solutions Ladies Day Cup (4.00) on the Goldie-trained Jonny Delta.

This promising stayer won a similar race on Scottish Champions Day at Musselburgh last autumn and made an encouraging reappearance over a slightly shorter trip at Hamilton last month. Over today’s 1m 6f distance, Jonny Delta is narrowly preferred to two five-times course winners – Philip Kirby’s Amazing King and Ian Semple’s Chookie Hamilton.

Semple’s runner is only 2lb higher than his previous win at Musselburgh last August and the Lanarkshire trainer said: “I think he will go alright and the easier conditions should be fine – I expect him to go close. He was an unlucky fourth at Haydock last time as [jockey] Paul Hanagan said he was travelling well, came to win his race and then, on the quick ground, wouldn’t let himself go on.”

With the rain due to fall steadily today, quick ground should not hinder Chookie Hamilton, and he should at least have the opportunity to give his true running. Semple is also predicting a big run from Liberty Island in the first division of the Jenners & Frasers Handicap, although the damp conditions could be a problem in his case. He added: “He is in very, very good heart and this will be just his second run for us since coming from Ireland. He was fourth at Ayr first time and that race has produced a few winners already. He definitely has a squeak and he likes good to firm ground, so I’m praying that the wet forecast is wrong!”

Having tried blinkers and a visor with Missile Attack, Semple opts for different headgear in the second division of the Jenners & Frasers Handicap. He said: “It’s the last-chance saloon for him and it’s cheekpieces this time. His attitude stinks but one day you just never know. His best efforts have come at Wolverhampton, although he was a half-decent third at Musselburgh last backend.”

Lee is fancied to initiate his winning double on Lean On Pete in the one-mile £8,000 HBJ Claims Solutions Handicap (2.20).

Trained by Ollie Pears, Lean On Pete was sent to the front too early when gambled on to score at Wolverhampton last time out and was caught close home. Lee has been booked to take the ride today and can be relied upon to get the fractions right over this shorter distance.

With the Jenners & Frasers Handicap Stakes divided, Musselburgh now has eight races with the first moving forward to 1.20pm. Gates open at 11am.

Musselburgh’s commercial manager Karen Taylor said, regardless of the conditions, the course was set for another successful Ladies Day. She said: “When the Olympic Torch visited Musselburgh yesterday we were bathed in glorious sunshine and we hope there is some left over for our Ladies Day. The forecast is not what we hoped for and racegoers should come prepared but, nonetheless, we are sure it will be another great day of racing and fashion. With a 7,000 attendance at the Edinburgh Cup, 9,000 today and our next meeting on 29 June, we will have pulled in around 20,000 racegoers in June and that is a great achievement by any standards.”

In addition to seven races with prize- money of £50,000, the best dressed lady who wins the Queen of Style event will pocket £3,000 in cash. Other prizes will go to the best-dressed male, most stylish hat and for the best-dressed couple or best-dressed group.

SELECTIONS

Musselburgh

1.20 Chosen One

1.50 Red Style

2.20 Lean On Pete (NB)

2.50 Mazeppa

3.25 Wicked Wilma

4.00 Jonny Delta

4.30 Bay Of Fires

5.05 Talk Of Saafend (nap)

Sandown

2.10 Regal Dan

2.40 Jocasta Dawn

3.15 Sublimation

3.50 Emmuska

4.20 Mountain Range

4.55 Tidal Way

York

2.00 Prince Regal

2.30 Valiant

3.05 Local Hero

3.40 Jamesbo’s Girl

4.10 Foxy Music

4.45 Lord Aeryn

5.15 Artisan

Aintree

5.50 Awaywiththegreys

6.25 Tuskar Rock

7.00 Charminster

7.35 Sunday City

8.00 Well Sharp

8.45 Glenora Gale

9.20 Dare

To Endeavour

Chepstow

5.30 Cheers

6.05 Beedee

6.40 Monty Fay

7.15 Myboyalfie

7.50 Monshak

8.25 Sammy Alexander

8.55 Decana

Goodwood

6.15 Sole Danser

6.50 Hidden

Justice

7.25 Moretta Blanche

8.00 Sir Mike

8.35 Viewpoint

9.05 Poole Harbour

Double

Talk Of

Saafend

5:05 Musselburgh

Lean On Pete

2:20 Musselburgh