Rory Delargy

MUSSELBURGH

SATURDAY

1:50 toteplacepot EASTER SATURDAY HANDICAP 7F 30Y

Karen McLintock had Rockwood fit enough to win on his reappearance at Pontefract during the week, and that augurs well for the prospects of the front-running Gurkha Brave here.

The five-year-old has been gelded over the winter, and was a reliable proposition in handicaps last term, winning at Carlisle and Pontefract on top of the ground. He was tried over 10 furlongs on a couple of occasions, but looked a blatant non-stayer both times, and he might prove best ridden forcefully at this trip.

Gurkha Brave runs in the colours of McLintock’s partner and assistant Don Eddy, a shrewd operator who held the licence at the Byerley Stud stable until handing the reins to Karen in 2005.

Roll On Rory could be a thorn in the selection’s side given he made all to score over the course and distance last season, and was never better than when runner-upon his final start.

He starts the season on a fair mark, and could well improve further, although trainer Jason Ward is looking for his first winner of the year, and the proven well-being of the McLintock yard swings the verdict, especially with 12/1 quoted early.

Lat Hawill drops in class, and has place claims.

3:00 totepoolliveinfo.com ROYAL MILE HANDICAP 1M

There are a few here with stamina to prove, but that’s not a comment that applies to Rashford’s Double.

Richard Fahey’s son of Zoffany has won all three of his starts in handicaps to date, the latest over slightly further at Nottingham in November, where he seemed a little uncomfortable on the unseasonably quick ground, but impressed with how he passed most of his rivals to hit the front before idling, and can be rated a fair bit better than the bare form.

He looked a little unfurnished as a juvenile, and it’s encouraging that Fahey has reported him as having done well over the winter, so there is every chance he will continue on a progressive path this spring.

The concern, if there is one, is how he would cope if the ground got quicker than advertised, but there is a possibility of showers overnight, and it’s unlikely to get rattling fast underfoot.

Fahey has another three in the race, and a couple of those look handicapped to win, but Navarone probably wants a sharper test (tends to finish weakly) and the trainer has expressed concern about Society Red’s readiness for this. The latter is worth following this season, whatever the result here.

Novoman is respected, but is short enough in the betting considering he was 0-3 in nurseries last year, and has a slight question over his stamina for a mile, on pedigree at least.

3:35 totepool QUEEN’S CUP HANDICAP 1M 6F

There is a possibility that Triumph Hurdle flop Soldier In Action will get an easy lead now back on the flat for former handler Mark Johnston, but he’s high in the weights on balance of form, and preference is for Stipulate, who has also been hurdling, albeit with limited success, and appeals as the type to win a good prize this year from his sliding mark.

He shaped well on occasion last year, notably when sixth behind Wall Of Fire in the Mallard at Doncaster.

He clearly failed to stay the trip on Town Moor, and it has to be a worry that this trip isn’t much shorter, but in what could prove a falsely run race, his tactical speed could be decisive. He has had issues with broken blood vessels, and much of his best form has come after a lay-off, so the 10-week break since a poor hurdles effort is no great concern.

KEMPTON SATURDAY

3:10 FOLLOW @racing_ukON TWITTER HANDICAP 6F

Stellarta ran a cracker on her return from a break here two weeks ago, a performance which is right up with the best she has ever managed, and it may be that she is still improving despite a fairly busy career to date.

Her record in double-digit fields over this track and trip bears very close scrutiny, with three wins and two places from just six runs in such conditions; she was beaten barely two lengths on the only occasion she missed the frame, and is clearly well suited to the demands of a well-run race round a right-handed bend.

She has a bit of work to do with Solar Flair, who was a length ahead of her last time, and is just 2lb worse off, but William Knight’s charge arguably had the run of things from the front, and the pace of the race will be more important than the small swing in the weights.

3:45 WATCH RACINGUK ON SKY 432 SNOWDROP FILLIES’ STAKES (Listed) 1M

Laugh Aloud has improved with every run in her career to date, her latest easy win at Newmarket in September backed up by a smart speed figure, and this powerful traveller should be untroubled in her bid to dominate the early fractions. Desert Haze looks her main threat, but Ralph Beckett’s filly tends to come from off the back, and will need the favourite to set overly strong fractions if she’s to give that one a start and beat her.

Materialistic is another who ought to show improved form after starting back late last year, but this trip looks an absolute minimum for Luca Cumani’s homebred.

5:25 FLAT IS BACK ON RACINGUK QUEEN’S PRIZE HANDICAP 2M

The Queen’s Prize isn’t the race it was in Kempton’s turf-racing heyday, but it’s still a decent contest, and the likes of Higher Power and Endless Acres merit plenty of respect having bagged course and distance wins on their most recent outings.

That’s also true of Beltor, if his subsequent hurdles runs are ignored, and while he will be a working man’s price here, his stylish win over Wolf Of Windlesham in December reads very well, particularly in terms of the speed figure it threw up, and he seems to stay this trip better on polytrack than he does over hurdles.

RECOMMENDED

GURKHA BRAVE 1.50 Musselburgh - 2pts win (Bet365, SkyBet)

RASHFORD’S DOUBLE 3.00 Musselburgh - 1pt win @ 6/1 (Bet365)

STIPULATE 3.35 Musselburgh - 1pt win @ 16/1 (Bet365, SkyBet)