At the races today

 

Musselburgh Racecourse rounds off its busiest month of the year with today’s The Investec Wealth & Investment Race Day.

 

The feature race is the Investec Wealth and Investment Handicap (3.45), a 5f sprint which sees course specialists Rothesay Chancer and The Nifty Fox both bidding to increase their winning records at the East Lothian venue, but both will be hard pressed to get the better of the recent Musselburgh winner Red Baron.

 

The Eric Alston trained four year old surged home from Imperial Legend on Ladies Day with The Nifty Fox four lengths adrift in fourth place. Taking Neil Farley’s 3lbs claim into consideration, Red Baron will actually renew rivalry on 1lb better terms and the style of his victory suggests that Red Baron remains on the upgrade.

 

Investec are also supporting the Edinburgh Selling Stakes at 2.40 and this valuable seller provides Brian Ellison’s Scargill with an excellent opportunity to gain his second win of the summer.

 

Only a week ago, Scargill was competing in the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and on his penultimate outing he finished a most respectable third behind the well regarded Master Carpenter in a conditions race at Pontefract. Scargill is set to carry top weight but his burden is reduced by the booking of the talented 7lbs claimer Connor Beasley.

 

Jim Goldie would appear to dominate the Download the Free Racing Plus App. Handicap (3.10). The Uplawmoor trainer saddles course winners Titus Bolt and Grand Diamond and the pair are closely matched on their recent running at Musselburgh, but Graham Lee rides Titus Bolt who is narrowly preferred.

 

Philip Kirby has a profitable strike rate with his Musselburgh runners and his Dr Irv commands respect in the 2m Boogie In The Morning Handicap (4.55). Though only successful once in 18 races, Dr Irv has been consistent all summer and the last occasion when he tackled two miles in a competitive handicap at Ripon,  Dr Irv was the moral winner being squeezed for room in the final strides and going down by the narrowest of margins in a three way photo. He deserves compensation here.

 

Today’s meeting is the East Lothian courses fourth in June and follows the totepool Edinburgh Cup, Stobo Castle Ladies Day and William Hill Scottish Sprint Cup, which attracted more than 17,000 race goers and offered total prize money of £360,000

 

Musselburgh Racecourse general manager, Bill Farnsworth, said: “It’s been an exciting month for us and we are delighted our three key meetings went off without a hitch.

 

“The Edinburgh Cup and Scottish Sprint Cup, both very different fixtures, are continuing to develop a strong following and we have an excellent foundation to build on in the coming years.

 

“Ladies Day was our ninth consecutive sell-out and we really feel this was our best yet. With another nine flat meetings over the summer months, we hope we can mirror the success we enjoyed in June and make it a Flat season to remember.”

 

For more information please visit www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk