The horse racing broadcaster provides his five selections for the racing at Musselburgh on the Saturday of Easter weekend.
ITV action is split between the Flat at Musselburgh and jumping at Haydock, with a total of nine races being covered.
The main focus is on a valuable card at Musselburgh, where the key story this Easter weekend is the very welcome return to action of Clifford Lee from a serious neck injury sustained in a cross‑country motorbike spill last October.
Lee was fresh from riding a treble at Pontefract and was on the verge of his first career century when the accident occurred, and the road back must have seemed a long one at times. He returns on Marshman on All‑Weather Finals Day on Friday, but it is the renewal of his association with tough stable veteran AL QAREEM / (14:30 Musselburgh) which could make the headlines. Clifford has won eight times from 20 rides on Al Qareem (A/E 1.84), and at this Listed level the horse’s domestic record is 4/4. The main concern may be the sharp track, but Al Qareem’s front‑running style will help, as will his renowned toughness in a battle, and he can provide the perfect result to reward the rider’s dedication to return to the saddle.
History may provide the answers to Musselburgh’s first two races.
Mark – and now Charlie – Johnston have won the last four renewals of the opening race, so VICENZO PERUGIA / (13:25 Musselburgh) clearly warrants respect. Off the track since flying too high in a Group 2 at Goodwood (form proved strong), he renews rivalry with Strength of Spirit, whom he beat at Beverley and who reopposes on better terms. Karl Burke’s charge rates the main danger, but his hold‑up running style is less suited to the track than the more forward approach usually taken with Vincenzo Perugia, and he can again return the prize to the Johnston mantelpiece.
GWEEDORE / (13:55 Musselburgh) has an outstanding record both at the track and in this race. He is 6/16 at Musselburgh (A/E 2.21), including wins in the race in 2022 and 2023, as well as a 2nd place last season, the latter off today’s mark of 90. The 2023 success also came first time out, so there is a lot in his favour. The only thing that could have been better is the draw (stall 10 is not ideal), but he tends to go forward, and hopefully, with front‑running Goldmoyne facing a similar dilemma from stall 9, the field will spread out and Jason Hart can avoid covering too much ground. The return of Hart to the saddle is also a plus; his record aboard Gweedore reads 5/15 (A/E 2.00), so he knows the 9‑year‑old well.
Adam Nicol has been flying recently with 5/19 in March (A/E 2.15), and the horse that put him on the map, WISE EAGLE / (15:05 Musselburgh), looks to have been given a chance both by the handicapper and the changes to the race conditions in the Queen’s Cup. The race was a 0–110 handicap last year, and Wise Eagle was beaten 1½ lengths into 4th off a mark of 103, but this year it has been downgraded to a 0–95. Happily for Wise Eagle, he has been dropped to exactly 95 on the Flat and showed his well‑being with an excellent 3rd over hurdles in the competitive Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso last time. He can outclass his rivals and is 5/9 at the track (A/E 2.21) and, at the time of writing, looks very much over the odds at 13‑2. He looks a bet at anything above 7‑2 and is the bet of the day.
Finally, there are few speedier horses in training than DEMOCRACY DILEMMA / (15:42 Musselburgh), who can lead the field a merry dance in the Scottish Sprint Cup. He ran well on his return in a Listed race at Lingfield last time, where he did face some pressure on the lead, but with that run under his belt he could dominate here. He has placed off similar marks in the Dash at Epsom and in a York handicap and will give a bold sight out in front today.
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