Racing: Ryan targets Flat double at Musselburgh

KEVIN Ryan has his eye on the feature races at Musselburgh this afternoon with his two runners as the track ushers in a new Flat season with a bumper eight-race card.

Marhaba Malayeen, ridden by the trainer’s champion apprentice daughter Amy, faces seven rivals in the Weatherbys Private Banking Handicap and the Hambleton handler said: “He was just beaten in a photo-finish at Musselburgh last year and the extra furlong should suit.

“He’s in good form and should come on for his first run back at Haydock. I expect him to run a big race.”

Discression is also expected to go well in the Core (Oil And Gas) Ltd Handicap under Phillip Makin, although the David O’Meara-trained Gandalk will be a tough nut to crack. Ryan added: “I thought [Disression] ran well under the circumstances in the Newbury Spring Cup. He didn’t break brilliantly and ended up being out of his ground. Providing he clears the stalls he’s got to have a big chance.”

The combination of trainer David Brown and jockey Robert Winston has rewarded Musselburgh racegoers with a regular flow of winners and Captain Midnight will be hard to beat in the Baillie Gifford EBF Maiden Stakes at 2:30pm.

Prize money at Musselburgh this month tops £125,000 and other race meetings will follow on 13 and 24 May Next month will get off to a flying start with the Totepool Edinburgh Cup on 1 June, followed by a glamour weekend with Stobo Castle Ladies Day on Friday, 14 June, which is expected to attract a 9,000 crowd. The William Hill Scottish Sprint Cup is on 15 June and the Investec Wealth & Investment race day on 28 June.

Commercial manager Sarah Montgomery said: “The summer months offer something for every type of racing follower at Musselburgh and it’s all hands on deck as we stage seven meetings in an eight-week period.”

• Jockey Eddie Ahern’s British Horseracing Authority disciplinary hearing has concluded after four days at organisations London HQ. Ahern, 35, was charged with conspiring to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice in relation to the laying of five horses between September 2010 and February 2011. He is also accused of intentionally failing to ensure Judgethemonent was ridden on its merits at Lingfield in January 2011 and of passing information for reward.

Others charged include former West Bromwich Albion footballer Neil Clement, who is facing rule breaches relating to the five races Ahern rode in and also the laying of Hindu Kush, which he then owned, when that horse finished last of six at Kempton in February 2011.

Former registered owner Michael Turl, who was charged with conspiring with Clement and/or others to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice, was last week disqualified for two years and fined £10,000 in connection with the laying of Stoneacre Gareth in March 2011.

The Panel will now consider all of the submissions before publishing a result with written reasons in due course.

Should any individuals be found in breach of the Rules, a hearing regarding penalties would subsequently be arranged. The BHA will make no further comment at this time.