16:00 Musselburgh

Saturday 3 June 2017

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:5517:30

Ian Macleod Distillers Handicap

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 1m 39.39s

(3)

Morning Suit¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 90| D

10/1

One of two runners in this for the stable who won two small field handicaps at Lingfield and Brighton the last of an 8lb lower mark. May well have found the race coming too soon after that when back on the AW and disappointing and returns again relatively quickly here.

Form: 722-117

(1)

Thomas Cranmer⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 88| BF| C

9/2

Took a nasty fall at Chester last year and showed the benefit of his return run at Southwell when making all around here over 7f off a mark of 82 in May, Well backed on the strength of that run last time out he ran way below his expected level (unable to lead) but well drawn to grab the advantage here.

Form: 41S-315

(4)

Yamarhaba Malayeen²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: G Lee| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 82| BF

6/4

Winner on his debut in a 7f AW maiden at Kempton when coming from off the pace and overcoming a wide draw to win in the style of a good horse. Attempted to follow-up in a strong looking three-year-old handicap (strong in market) but probably found that big-field a little too much on just his second run but still shaped nicely. Kept on the same mark here and looks a player although coming from off the pace as he has in his two runs isn't that easy around here.

Form: 16

(6)

Desert Dream³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: L Morris| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 81| D

2/1

Shown steady improvement this year and got off the mark on his third start when winning a maiden at Windsor in a maiden where quite a few big yards were represented. May well have won with a bit to spare there (had to be switched closing stages) and enters handicaps off a mark of 81.

Form: 7-51

(5)

Lord Commander¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 77

12/1

The first of two runners for this yard with this one being the one with handicap experience although he was well held on his first attempt in that sphere off a mark of 77 (same mark today). Trip and ground may well have been against him there and better ground and a return to a mile may suit better.

Form: 3-420

(2)

The Eagle's Nest²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: Shane Gray| T: R A Fahey| OR: 72

20/1

Makes his handicap debut here having shown some promise in two of his three maiden start and matched her debut effort last time at Catterick over 7f. Could well have some improvement in him bit does face a couple of obvious improvers here.

Form: 303

Forecasts

Yamarhaba Malayeen (6/4), Desert Dream (2/1), Thomas Cranmer (9/2), Morning Suit (10/1), Lord Commander (12/1), The Eagle's Nest (20/1)

Both the Johnston and Fahey yards are doubly represented here having won both won this race previously. The better of the Johnston pair looks to be Thomas Cranmer but he does need to bounce back from a poor run and a lot will depend on his chance of leading which suits him best. The Fahey duo are harder split but Lord Commander could well put his experience to good use in that duo without being good enough to win this. Yamarhaba Malayeen looks one of the most progressive in this field but his hold-up style (so far) may not be suited by this track and this may be best left to a rare Sir Michael Stoute runner at Musselburgh in DESERT DREAM. He looked the type to really improve from his maiden going handicapping and would not be the first Stoute horse to improve significantly in a handicap of this ilk.

Ian Macleod Distillers Handicap

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