Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Mussleburgh Review
Yorkshire handler Declan Carroll had a highly successful day at Musselburgh with both his runners at the Scottish track emerging victorious.
First top-weight Green Park was produced late by Neil Farley to land the Daily Record Handicap, then 7-2 favourite Whats For Pudding took the Scottish Racing Your Better Bet Handicap for the same jockey.
Green Park (10-1) could be spotted making good progress down the stands side rail and once the split came he was well able to take it, picking up to beat market leader Blown It by half a length.
Farley said: "He travelled into the race very well and I just had to wait for the gap to open. Thankfully it opened at just the right time and I was able to produce him right on the line.
"He's run a couple of good races this year and he was on song today. He's done it well and I'm very pleased. The rain was important to him as he's a horse who needs cover and a bit of dig in the ground."
PJ McDonald was given a one-day careless riding ban on Tongalooma behind Green Park, but went on to gain some compensation by cruising to victory on board Silver Tigress (5-4) in the TurfTV Handicap for George Moore.
McDonald said: "She's done it very easily and she's improving all the time. I think the more she steps up in trip, the better she'll get. While I'm not saying she'll be a superstar, there is no reason she shouldn't be able to step up a grade in these staying races and be competitive."
A return to Musselburgh saw the Keith Dalgleish-trained 12-1 shot Chookie Hamilton open his account for the campaign in the Watch Racing UK On Sky 432 Handicap. The seven-year-old has won at the Edinburgh venue five times after scoring under Paul Hanagan.
The jockey went on to further stretch his lead in this year's title race by guiding Bolodenka (4-6) to victory in the Racing UK Classified Claiming Stakes. Rival Silvestre de Sousa picked up a one-day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency on runner-up Greyfriarschorista.
First Fast Now (2-1 favourite) finally put five consecutive seconds behind her when getting off the mark in the Scottish Racing Maiden Auction Stakes and trainer Nigel Tinkler said: "She's won well and she'll probably have an easy fortnight now. I hope she can win a nursery."