It’s ladies day for us at Musselburgh today as we head there with three fillies across their seven-race card. THE PLAYER QUEEN (1.35) lines up first in the two-and-a-half mile mares' novice hurdle looking to get back on track after a disappointing effort at Kelso last time. There were excuses that day, primarily the ground and we’re hoping it won’t be as testing today as it was in the Borders back in December. It never usually is at Musselburgh so hopefully she will handle it. There is a hot favourite trained by Gordon Elliott who comes into this on the back of an impressive win at Fairyhouse last time out so that sets a high standard.
Ours is a mare we like a lot, she was impressive on her first start for us so while two miles around Musselburgh will be sharp enough for her, hopefully the slower ground will counteract that. She is in good order, she’s had a nice break since Kelso so, fingers crossed, we’ll get a nice run from her today.
SHANBALLY ROSE (2.10) really pleased us on her chase debut at the track before Christmas and showed there will be plenty of improvement to come over fences with her. I am concerned about the ground but the plus side of it is it should slow them down a bit and with her being run off her feet a touch early in the last race, it might help a little bit. We just have to hope she doesn’t find it too taxing underfoot and if she doesn’t then we think she'll run okay.
AAZZA (3.55) goes into a handicap for the first time after a win and a second at Hexham at the tail end of last year. Obviously Musselburgh is a completely different test to what she’s encountered before but we think she’ll handle it and the ground shouldn’t be too much of an inconvenience unless it gets very cut up by the time her race comes around. She stays well and is in good order at home, so stepping her up in trip seems a good idea especially around here. She’s quite fancied in the betting so hopefully she’ll run well and justify the support she’s had in the market!
The photo above, from left to right, is The Player Queen and Debbie, Shanbally Rose and Kim and Aazza and Amy.