The main horse racing action in the UK on Friday is the All-Weather Championship meeting at Lingfield which we have reviewed separately. There is also a good quality turf meeting at Musselburgh, only the second after Doncaster’s two-day Lincoln meeting last weekend.
The card includes the veteran sprinter Borderlescott attempting to win the race named after him at 3.30. Rebecca Bastiman’s tough gelding is now thirteen years of age but still showing plenty of dash. He was only beaten a nose in this race last year by Smoothtalkinrascal but the rain-softened ground is likely to count against him on Friday.
He is joined in the field by another former Goodwood Stewards’ Cup winner in Hawkeyethenoo but he probably needs further than this five furlongs these days. The race should be fought out between Blaine and Robot Boy who are closely matched on last season’s form. Kevin Ryan had Astaire in pretty good shape for the Cammidge Trophy last week so I’m guessing that Blaine won’t be far off his best here.
By far the most competitive race on the card is the Royal Mile at 2.55. This race has attracted some really promising three-year-olds and it will be fascinating to see how it unfolds. It usually pays to keep an eye on these good quality handicaps at this time of year and I would be very surprised if there aren’t half a dozen future winners in the race.
Mister Universe and Tom Hark were both involved in races featuring subsequent Dewhurst Stakes winner Elm Park last season. The latter actually had Andrew Balding’s colt behind him at Sandown, although that was obviously flattering. He won his maiden in good style and has to be respected. Richard Fahey has his team in great form for the start of the season and both of his runners look useful. Arcano Gold and Spring Offensive both look capable of winning nice races this summer.
Fahey was particularly enthusiastic about York runner-up Spring Offensive and he is just preferred. You can never discard William Haggas runners in handicaps so it would be no surprise if Tadqeeq improves considerably on his all-weather form while Berland is another to note for the future.
Gordon Elliott will have one eye on the Grand National and Cause Of Causes at present but he sends over Bayan for the Balmoral Cup. This horse won the valuable Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot over hurdles but is pretty useful on the flat as well and the booking of Paul Hanagan looks significant,
Bayan 2.25 @5-1 Betfair
Spring Offensive 2.55 @6-1 Betfair
Blaine 3.30 @2-1 Ladbrokes
