Alpha can shine at Musselburgh

RacINg: Bryan Smart’s charge has upwards of 2lb in hand on his rivals

ALPHA DELPHINI goes into battle in the Breeders Backing Racing EBF Flying Scotsman Conditions Stakes at Musselburgh.

Bryan Smart’s charge will be having his ninth start of the year and he has certainly been mixing it with the best, lining up in the likes of the King’s Stand Stakes and Nunthorpe.

Dropped back to conditions level at Beverley last time, the six-year-old scored his first victory in more than a year as he fended off the admirable Line Of Reason in a thrilling finish.

The conditions of the race give him upwards of 2lb in hand on his rivals here, and it is hard to envisage defeat now his confidence is riding high again.

ALJEZEERA can make the most of a step down in class in the British Stallion Studs EBF Beckford Stakes at Yarmouth.

One of two runners for trainer Luca Cumani, Aljezeera was last seen when dead-heating for second in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last month.

Tackling an extended mile and six furlongs for the first time that day, the daughter of Frankel was just edged out by outsider Alyssa in the shadow of the post, going down by half a length but certainly not shirking a battle at any stage.

She was likely just outstayed that day, so dropping back half a furlong here might be a bonus, while dropping from Group Two level certainly has to be a positive factor.

Aljezeera has a little to find with Wingingit on the official numbers, while the likes of Dubka would be expected to push her all the way, but Cumani’s filly is still pretty unexposed and looks likely to make up into a nice four-year-old if connections choose to persist. SELECTIONS MUSSELBURGH: 1.50 Royal Pursuit, 2.20 Al Hawraa, 2.50 Big Tour, 3.20 Alpha Delphini, 3.50 Economic Crisis, 4.20 Mimic’s Memory, 4.55 Tagur, 5.25 Tawseef.

YARMOUTH: 1.40 Fakhoor, 2.10 Alfarqad, 2.40 Felisa, 3.10 ALJEZEERA (NAP), 3.40 Annoushka, 4.10 Kulgri, 4.40 Chiswick Bey, 5.10 Zaria, 5.40 Monaadhil.

DOUBLE: Aljezeera and Alpha Delphini.