SCOTTISH trainers have been doing all right this Flat season and chances are they will make their mark at Musselburgh today.
Prospects of a 1-2 start for home handlers is real enough with Jim Goldie's Blazing Heights standing a decent chance in the opener over five furlongs, while Ian Semple's Kames Park is in a similar situation in the handicap over a mile and six furlongs.
There are plenty of rivals for both on a seven-race card that has a healthy collection of candidates that should make for competitive racing.
Among the horses Goldie's contender has to beat are How's She Cuttin', Colorus and Ptarmigan Ridge, trained by Linda Perratt. How's She Cuttin' has a great record at the East Lothian track, having won three races there.
Colorus has been climbing the ratings at a rapid rate and goes up 12lb for his Thirsk success when he beat Continent. He will be a formidable opponent, while Ptarmigan Ridge is always dangerous.
However, Blazing Heights (2.20) is also a course-and-distance winner and ran well enough when third at Ayr recently. He could make it another course-and-distance success.
Lets Roll, Doctor Scott and Sin City are just three obstacles in the way of Kames Park, who is also a course-and-distance winner. Lets Roll has some smart form, in particular a second to Peppertree Lane at Ripon, which would give him an outstanding chance, even although he has not won over this trip as yet.
Doctor Scott, on the other hand, won over the distance at Catterick and must go close. Even so, Kames Park (2.50), who has been running over shorter trips, will be happier with this distance and can win for the Carluke trainer .
Semple could go close with Chookie Hamilton in the Tradesman's Derby Handicap, a race in which three-time Derby winning jockey Pat Eddery, now a trainer, has his first Musselburgh runner, Secret Tune, owned by Prince Khaled Abdulla and ridden by Pat's younger brother, Paul.
Mark Johnston saddles two, My Secrets and Aureate. However, Gull Wing (3.20), trained by Michael Bell, looks the one to beat. She was out of her depth in the Lingfield Oaks Trial but will be more at home in this company.
There is also some good racing at Folkestone, where Bakhoor (3.05) could be a winner in the fillies handicap, although it is a tough-looking contest. Selections Musselburgh 2.20 Blazing Heights, 2.50 Kames Park 3.20 Gull Wing Folkestone 3.05 Bakhoor
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