Donn McClean

IT could be worthwhile retaining the faith with Desert Law in the Scottish Sprint Cup at Musselburgh today.

Paul Midgley’s horse could only finish seventh behind Caspian Prince in the Dash at Epsom on Derby day two weeks ago, when we had him on side, but he was only beaten by a total of a length and three-quarters by the winner. And he didn’t run badly that day, he was in behind early out in the centre, and he did pick up, but he just couldn’t get any closer to the leaders.

He is 4lb better off with the winner today, and that alone should see him get closer. More importantly, however, he is back at Musselburgh, back over the course and distance over which he was so impressive in winning on his debut this season.

He was rated just 86 going into that race but, as it wasn’t a handicap, he was meeting the 96-rated Lexington Abbey and his 100-rated stable companion Line Of Reason on level terms, and he beat them fairly easily into second and third places respectively, showing a smart turn of foot to come from last place before going on and winning by more than three lengths.

Musselburgh’s five furlongs is significantly stiffer than Epsom’s, and that is a positive. Also, on his only other run at Musselburgh, he finished a close-up fifth in this race last year, when his rider lost an iron early on and he didn’t have a lot of room through the closing stages of the race.

With Caspian Prince again in the line-up, he should again get the fast pace at which he can aim. And he is drawn next door to Tony Coyle’s horse in stall three, so he should get a good tow into the race.

The handicapper did raise him fairly significantly for his seasonal debut, by 8lb, but he races today off a mark of 94, and that is still 12lb lower than his peak. He could run a big race.

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

Some 20 minutes later, Golden Apollo could also run a big race in the Macmillan Charity Handicap at York.

Tim Easterby’s horse put up a really nice performance to win a six-furlong three-year-olds’ handicap at Pontefract last Monday. He made nice progress on the outside to hit the front on the run to the furlong pole, and he came clear up the hill to win by five lengths from Parnassian, who was admittedly a little unlucky not to get a little closer.

His best run last year was his final run, when he won a nursery at Doncaster off a mark of 75. That race was run over six furlongs on fast ground, just like today’s race will be, just like his latest race at Pontefract was. That Pontefract run was his third run of this season, and it was the first time that he was able to race on fast ground this term.

Not that he doesn’t handle soft ground. He ran a cracker on his debut this season to finish fourth behind Battered in a seven-furlong handicap at York on soft ground. He did well to get as close as he did that day, given that he was wider than ideal into the home straight, and that he raced away from the main action.

The first three home all raced towards the far side. He did best of those who raced towards the near side.

Today’s trip is a little bit of a worry, because he does stay seven furlongs, and Pontefract’s six furlongs is stiffer than York’s. However, that is counteracted by the fact that he bounces off fast ground, that he is proven at York and that he could be a really well-handicapped horse now.

The handicapper hasn’t had a chance to reassess him after Monday’s run, so he races under a 6lb penalty today, effectively off a mark of 86. But it is probable that his new mark would have been a little higher than that.

His draw in stall one is a net positive. You probably don’t want to be drawn on a wing in a sprint, but you generally prefer to be drawn lower than higher on York’s straight track.

Ekhtiyaar is progressive and he battled on well to beat Poet’s Princess at Newmarket last time. However, the runner-up did not help the form in the Ballyogan Stakes at the Curragh on Guineas weekend, he is not invincible and, in a good each-way race, Golden Apollo may represent a little bit of value.

Recommended

DESERT LAW, 10/1 (generally) 1 point each-way

GOLDEN APOLLO, 9/1 (generally) 1 point each-way