MUSSELBURGH

4:50 DM HALL HANDICAP (CLASS 4) (4yo+,0-85) 1m

REGAL PARADE 9-4 ~ The Pivotal colt has never looked the most straight forward horse but he is clearly talented all the same. He looked an exciting prospect for his previous trainer Mark Johnston but never really built on a hat trick of wins at the beginning of last year. He joined his current trainer Dandy Nicholls after last season and he’s made two starts for the sprint king. On his seasonal reappearance in the Spring Mile he ran a fine race to finish 5th and he followed that up to finish runner up in a hot Southwell handicap. He improved a lot for his first run of the season, like a lot of Dandy Nicholls horses do, and managed to find around 8 lengths on Benandonner from his Spring Mile effort. At Southwell the front two pulled clear of the pack in what was as a very decent race for the track. Both the Spring Mile and Lincoln form was well represented as well as the race containing plenty of decent standard bearers for the track. The return to turf isn’t likely to inconvenience him and he is well handicapped running off a mark actually 1lb lower than he carried on both starts this term. He’s still only 4 and as he is having only his 3rd run for current connections he looks to have plenty of scope for further improvement. He sets a decent standard and looks the one they all have to beat.

SOLIS 9-2 ~ Ex-German flat horse who makes his British debut today for his new connections. His trainer Peter Monteith is better known for his jumpers and as Solis is an In The Wings gelding chances are that he’s been bought to go over hurdles in the not too distant future. Handicapper hasn’t taken any chances by putting the 5yo on a mark of 83 and he’ll probably need the run having not seen a racecourse for a couple of months.

ABBONDANZA 9-2 ~ Formerly trained by Ian Semple but after he retired at the end of last year Abbondanza came under the stewardship of Linda Perratt. The 5yo gelding loves to dominate in small field handicaps so he wouldn’t want a field much bigger than this. With Bajan Pride in the field he is unlikely to get an easy time of it out in front and Ansells Pride has also been known to lead on occasions. He had been making hey on the all weather at the beginning of the winter but after disappointing at Wolverhampton in January he hasn’t seen a racecourse since. However he has been freshened up and he's won before off the back of a break so not without a chance. This is a tougher assignment than he has been facing on the all weather though so he will need to improve if he’s to win.

CHA CHA CHA 9-1 ~ Kevin Ryan trained filly who didn’t take to the all weather when making three starts in that sphere over the winter. The return to turf here at Musselburgh made all the difference as the 4yo showed an impressive turn of foot to win a 7f handicap in taking fashion. Given that Neil Callan had to wait before delivering his effort gave the impression that she was value for more than the bare form. However that looked a decidedly average race and the form has subsequently been made to look even worse. Despite this she still looked a filly to follow and she was sent off favourite for a better handicap at Doncaster on soft ground. She got stuck in the stalls a little at the start but it didn’t appear to cost her much ground and she came to win her race but the principles were just too good. It couldn’t be said that she was an unlucky loser but the form still looked decent as the front three pulled clear of the rest. Possible that the filly couldn’t utilise her turn of foot in the soft ground so back on a faster surface she could well improve again. The extra furlong isn’t sure to suit though and this is a tougher assignment that her last two runs on turf but she has to enter calculations.

WOVOKA 8-11 ~ Former Listed winner for Mick Channon as a 2yo but he has failed to match that level of form since. The 5yo gelding joined David Barker after the end of last season and after a blow out at Redcar he ran an improved race in a mile handicap at Newcastle. The son of Mujadil finished 4th but he ruined his chance by hanging from the near rail to finish on the far rail. Although his run through the pack was very encouraging the way he hung wasn't but it was still a return to form and he should have more to offer his new connections. He runs today on the same of 78 that he was on at Newcastle and he looks nicely handicapped given he is 7lbs lower than his highest career winning mark. He showed last year at Epsom that he is capable of running well in competitive handicaps and after his encouraging effort last time out he could well run another big race.

BAJANS PRIDE 8-8 ~ After winning two average handicaps the Richard Hannon trained gelding struggled. However that isn’t entirely surprising when his form is closely examined. The Kempton race was a poor event that suited the horse’ style of running and at Newmarket Richard Hughes pinched the race after setting a steady pace. The hike in the weights for those two wins and the step up in class proved too much for the horse to handle and he failed to reproduce that winning form. The 4yo has since made the switch to the shrewd Richard Fahey yard and this is his debut for the Yorkshire trainer so any market support would be interesting. However with doubts about his fitness and his form he has to be taken on.

ANSELLS PRIDE 8-8 ~ After mixing it in auction maidens it was hardly surprising when on his first run on the turf he finished last of 13. However the Brian Smart gelding proved that to be all wrong next time out when winning a course and distance handicap at 40/1. It was a moderate affair but as it was only his 5th career start so he could be expected to improve on the bare form. He wasn’t seen again until last month when he made his seasonal reappearance at Southwell. It was a decent enough effort and he should improve for the run but this is a much more competitive handicap than the one he won so he may struggle in this company on a 7lbs higher mark.

RUBENSTAR 8-4 ~ The 5yo gelding makes his seasonal reappearance and debut for his new trainer Mr or Mrs D J G Murray Smith. This is actually the stables first ever runner but on all known form he has always been better for a run. His form last season for Mark Tompkins was nothing to get excited about and he looked thoroughly exposed. He looks to be one of the few who don’t have a decent chance in the race.

FRANK CROW 8-4 ~ Been running mainly over hurdles this season and was last seen finishing 9th in the Grade 2 Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree. He had been well beaten by Cha Cha Cha on his last run on the flat and no reason to think he won’t struggle again. True the gelding has a good record at the Scottish track (6-2-0) but in this company he is unlikely to improve that record.

STOIC LEADER 8-4 ~ As exposed as they come having had 135 career starts and the 8yo has a fine record at Musselburgh (20-5-6). So likely to run his race and a good 2nd at Catterick last time out proves there is plenty of fire left in the belly. However this is a tougher race and from 6lbs out of the handicap he looks up against it.

CONCLUSION

Shortlist includes Regal Parade, Abbondanza, Cha Cha Cha, Wovoka and Ansells Pride.

Abbondanza is sure to run his race but he unlikely to be able to dominate in this field and he will need to step up on his all weather form in this company. Ansells Pride should improve on his run last time out but his win in an average handicap leaves him with ground to find on the principles.

The leaves an elite three of Cha Cha Cha, Wovoka and Regal Parade.

Cha Cha Cha was impressive when winning a handicap here at Musselburgh two runs back. That was a weak race though and although race conditions weren’t ideal at Musselburgh he will have to improve on that run and he may prove better over 7f.
Wovoka looks like the main danger to the selection if he can keep straight but if hanging across the track again he won’t be winning.
Regal Parade looks the class act in the field and he looks well handicapped to boot. He isn’t entirely straight forward but the way he’s performed this season for new connections suggest his career is back on track. He looked like a potential 100+ rated horse for Mark Johnston at the beginning of last season but things didn’t go to plan. The change of scenery appears to have done the trick and he could finally be delivering on the potential he showed last season.

2pts WIN – REGAL PARADE @ 3/1

RESULT

REGAL PARADE 2nd = -2pts