Musselburgh

3.40 1m6f Class 3 Handicap – Claire Underwood 7/1

Richard Fahey’s runners are to take note of his chances at Musselburgh, it was his most successful course last season with a 20% strike rate and he’s enjoying an even better 23% strike rate at the course this season, the last 5 seasons he has a +£29.55 level stake profit at Musselburgh. Claire Underwood’s last win was at this course under today’s jockey, she wasn’t well away but still claimed the lead and dictated a steady gallop and won nicely with a quite a bit in hand against a small but good field, she’s since ran 4 solid races, especially her last when just beaten on the run in by the odds on well bred Derevo who looks to be going places. This race looks easier and against a more exposed field, Alright Sunshine the obvious danger but will have to step up quite a bit on his last win in a class 4, he wasn’t all that convincing and this step up to a class 2 with a 4lb penalty looks too steep for me. Claire Underwood does go up 2lbs for her latest effort but Sean Davis is back in the saddle who was on her last victory and takes off 3lbs plus this step up in trip looks a big positive by her last display.

Brighton

4.00 6f Class 4 Handicap – Handytalk 5/1

Trainer Rod Millman is having a good season, especially with his older horses on the turf with a 15% strike rate compared to his usual 10% average, he’s close to 45% win and place rate at present this season and a recent winner of his Handytalk has a great chance of following up with claimer Cieren Fallon who is well worth his claim negating the 5lb penalty, Cieren has already claimed 4 winners at Brighton in his maiden season and is the first time being called up by Rod. Handytalk is in great form he claimed his 2nd winner of the season under 2 weeks ago on fast ground at Ffos Las, he’s yet to race at Brighton but being a front runner it should suit perfectly and is drawn well in 3 to attack.

5.00 5f Class 6 Handicap – Hurricane Alert 5/1

Been running well on the all weather this season, he claimed an outright win in March with David Probert in the hot seat for the first and only time and was first past the post in April at Chelmsford off a pound higher than today’s mark before being reversed in the stewards room for interference. Today he returns to turf for just his 2nd try of the season, he’s won on the turf off 3lb higher in the past, he’ll love the fast underfoot conditions, David Probert takes back over the reigns which is a good positive as mentioned, he’s recent record isn’t looking good at present with just the one winner in the last 2 weeks, but digging deeper he’s had 12 runner up places, so fair to say he’s just been unlucky and so I wouldn’t worry about recent form at all, he loves Brighton with a 20% strike rate the last 5 seasons and healthy +£12.61 LSP.

Russell Blair Racing