Cookie can chip away at rivals

Niven reckons top weight won’t hinder Musselburgh hope

Group 2 winner Clever Cookie carries top weight in the Queen’s Cup at Musselburgh as he returns to the scene of his successful debut today.

Peter Niven’s ten-year-old, who was bred by his mother and won a bumper at the East Lothian venue in 2012, has 13 rivals in the 1m 6f handicap.

“He’s getting a bit older but he seems in good form,” Niven said. “He’s giving a fair bit of weight away but he’s big enough to carry it and we’re hoping for the best.”

Among the opposition to Clever Cookie in the £100,000 race is last year’s winner Carbon Dating, trained by Adrian Mcguinness, who returns to defend his crown having spent the winter in the UAE.

Mirsaale (Keith Dalgleish) and Sir Chauvelin (Jim Goldie) carry the colours of Jimmy Fyffe. They are both winning hurdlers and Mirsaale ran in the 2013 Derby.

Graceland, trained at Newmarket by Michael Bell, goes well fresh as he has won twice and finished second on his seasonal reappearance in the last three years.

American Gigolo, trained by Harry Fry and ridden by former champion jockey Paul Hanagan, is an improving sort and has won his last three starts on the all-weather.

Mark Johnston’s Time To Study landed the Edinburgh Cup over course and distance last summer and then wasn’t beaten far in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.

On a cracking card this afternoon (with four races live on ITV), the Flat season in Scotland gets underway with the toteplacepot handicap, which sees Twin Appeal bid to follow up year’s success for Thirsk trainer David Barron from a 4lb lower mark.