Ellaal looking for hat-trick at Musselburgh

Ruth Carr’s charge has every chance to shrug off 7lb rise

ELLAAL can make it a hat-trick in the Scott Coppola Electrical Distributor Handicap at Musselburgh.

The seven-year-old may be lining up off his highest mark since 2012, but his confidence has been boosted after what has been a fruitful 2016 so far.

Without a win since 2014, Ruth Carr’s charge was sitting on a rating of 59 at the start of the year but started to climb back through the ranks after winning at Wolverhampton in March.

Mile successes at Musselburgh in April and May soon followed before Ellaal had a blip through June, before eventually coming good again at Scottish venue at the end of July.

He ran out a 4½-length winner, prompting a 6lb hike in the handicap which duly proved no barrier to success as he triumphed at Newmarket.

While his winning margin was cut to two lengths, he was putting in all his best work at the end under what was a well-judged ride from James Sullivan.

A similarly shrewd performance in the plate here can see Ellaal shrug off a 7lb rise and claim glory once again.

TWIN POINT recently poked his head in front at Yarmouth and looks a likely type in the Dale Hall And Hickman Associates Handicap at Leicester.

The five-year-old is now with his third trainer in Charlie Fellowes, and he has certainly made a good start for the team, finishing in the first three on four of his five starts for the yard.

A winner at Lingfield in January before placing third at Kempton that same month, Twin Point was then off the track until the end of last month when he made a promising return in finishing second at Yarmouth.

He then returned to that track to triumph off a figure of 75 and while further progress is needed if he is to win off his new rating of 78, Twin Point can rise to the challenge. Neil Mulholland takes the wraps off

SHANTOU VILLAGE in the Josie O’Leary, Nicola, Beck And Archie Pineapple Novices’ Chase at Fontwell. SELECTIONS:

FONTWELL: 2.20 Osgood, 2.50 Daulys Anthem, 3.20 En Joule, 3.50 Shantou Village, 4.20 Archie Rice, 4.55 Wyndcrest, 5.25 Ablazing.

LEICESTER: 2.10 Ocean Air, 2.40 TWIN POINT (NAP), 3.10 Storm Cry, 3.40 Mamoo, 4.10 Syncopation, 4.45 Dear Bruin.

MUSSELBURGH: 2.00 Lucky Mistake, 2.30 Lil’s Affair, 3.00 Exclusive Diamond, 3.30 Introductory, 4.00 Ellaal, 4.30 Stormy Art, 5.05 Thornaby Princess.

DOUBLE: Twin Point and Shantou Village.