Raymond Tusk stampedes from Eclipse to Hamilton
Raymond Tusk takes a drop in class to contest the Britishglasgow stakes on Hamilton’s richest card of the season tonight.
Trained by Richard Hannon, he was last seen in action 12 days ago when finishing sixth in the Coral-eclipse Stakes at Sandown.
Rated 106, he is one of five declared for the £43,000 Listed contest over 1m 3f which was won last year by Defoe and four years ago by multiple Group 1 scorer Postponed.
Mark Johnston is doublehanded with Austrian School and improving Ventura Knight who has won his last two starts.
Last year’s hero Classic Seniority is among the 13 speedsters lining up for the £34,000 Heineken UK Scottish Stewards’ Cup.
Ruth Carr is represented by Ower Fly and 2015 hero Poyle Vinnie, while the two Scottish trained runners are Keith Dalgleish’s Dark Defender and Jim Goldie’s Golden Steps.
At Hamilton yesterday, Tor landed the 1m 5f handicap for the second year in-a-row this time with Joe Fanning in the saddle. Winning trainer Iain Jardine said: “He’s a tough little horse and really sticks his neck out. He was being hardpressed in the closing stages but he hung on bravely.”
And, in a week when she recorded a treble and rode out her claim, Rachel Richardson scored on Gullane One. The combination made all the running to take the Racing UK Club Day Here Today Handicap for her boss Tim Easterby.
Natalie’s Joy can banish the memories of Royal Ascot in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury today.
Sent off favourite for the Chesham Stakes last month, she ran too badly to be true in seventh behind Arthur Kitt.
The fact Mark Johnston had no qualms about taking on the boys with her spoke volumes, but distress signals were being sent out from halfway.
Maybe the occasion was all too much on just her second start, but she had looked so impressive on her debut at Goodwood that it is far too early to write her off.
That day she absolutely blitzed the field, winning by six lengths and looking a Group performer in the making. She deserves another chance.
There might be even more to come from John Gosden’s Rococo now she is stepping further up in trip for the Ross Brooke Chartered Accountants Fillies’ Handicap.
The Dubai filly took a while to open her account, but at the fourth time of asking and on her handicap debut she bolted up. That was her first run over a mile and a half and now she faces another two furlongs but looks all about stamina. A 10lb rise for her six-length win might not be enough to stop her following up.
Gosden might also be celebrating with Scottish Jig in the Fly London Southend Airport To Dubrovnik Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Newmarket.