1.50 Musselburgh

Richard Fahey has made his customary swift start to the new season and PENWORTHAM (Best price 6/1) hails from a yard which likes to target this meeting. He looked a horse likely to progress again this season on his final start at Chester last September. A six pound rise for a smooth win doesn’t appear too punitive and he should go well with conditions likely to suit.

Penwortham - 0.5pts e/w @ 6/1

2.25 Musselburgh

At the age of 10, Monsieur Joe's fitness has to be taken on trust especially as all of his wins, bar his debut success, have come when he has raced between three and twenty five days previously. The admirable veteran has upwards of 9lb in hand of his rivals and could well confirm that superiority, however GLENROWAN ROSE (Best price 9-2) could be a viable alternative even if she has plenty to find on the figures. She has scope to progress again this year, likes the track and her yard have hit the ground running this term.

Glenrowan Rose - 1pt @ 9/2

3.00 Musselburgh

With more than 200 horses in training this season, William Haggas has become one, if not the most pre-eminent trainer in Newmarket and NOVOMAN (Best price 7-2) could wrestle another sizeable prize from his Scottish counterparts today. Haggas has enjoyed some notable raiding parties north of the border and the Royal Mile Handicap has been a fruitful port of call in recent seasons. In the two runnings of this race, he has won it with Travel First and trained Tadqeeq to finish third and Novoman looks the type to come to hand early and a gelding operation could help concentrate his mind.
 

Novoman - 1pt @ 7/2

3.35 Musselburgh

The decision to swerve a hurdling campaign suggests connections believe there is a big price in SHREWD (Best price 6-1) on the flat this summer. The selection has a decent record fresh and boasts a good record at this venue over hurdles so could be worth chancing following an absence. Last year’s Ebor Handicap runner-up has a better record on the turf than Isharah who has enjoyed a terrific winter on the all-weather but his turf record doesn’t read quite as well, while he is 0-5 on right handed tracks so there could be some licence in opposing him.

Shrewd - 0.5pts e/w @ 6/1

2.05 Haydock

With any luck the north west venue will escape any showers as a sound surface is imperative for BALLYBOLLEY (Best price 5-1) to produce his best form. If conditions stay dry and the clerk of the course hasn't over watered last year’s winner could well follow up as a couple of outings on deep ground this winter have served to help the selection’s handicap mark become a little more lenient and he should go well again at a track which clearly suits him well.

Ballybolley - 1pt e/w @ 5/1

2.40 Haydock

No Duffer won this race for Tom George 12 months ago and stablemate BEHIND THE WIRE (Best price 13-2) looked a young chaser going places when scoring at Newbury. The selection could arguably have won his last three but for a slightly unfortunate defeat at the hands of Fort Worth at Doncaster on his penultimate start. He was raised 9lbs for his Newbury victory which looks a little punitive, but the drying ground should be in his favour and his run style should lend itself well to this track.

Behind The Wire - 0.5pts e/w @ 13/2

3.15 Haydock

Trainer Richard Woollacott enjoyed a fabulous day in the sun at Aintree recently when Lalor landed a Grade 2 bumper and FLORESCO (Best price 22-1) could emulate his stablemate by springing a surprise in the final of the Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series. Admittedly, the first-time blinkers are going to need to improve the seven-year-old’s level of recent performance, but the selection is a markedly better horse on faster ground and his two latest displays have been substandard because of an easy surface. The selection was only beaten six lengths in this event 12 months ago so his morning odds seem a little on the disrespectful side.

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Floresco - 0.5pts e/w @ 22/1