Southern raiders out to plunder big prize in Musselburgh’s Archerfield Cup

Musselburgh’s Archerfield Cup today has caught the eye of leading trainers who are lining up for a pop at the £30,000 feature race.

Life On Earth is trained by William Haggas and ridden by Jamie Spencer who became the 20th most successful jockey in Britain earlier this week. The Newmarket-trained filly, whose trainer does well at Musselburgh, takes a big step up on this trip for her hat-trick attempt following wins at Lingfield and Windsor over a mile and a half. Fellow Newmarket raider Artarmon, trained by Michael Bell, has also won his last two races at Catterick and Sandown, while Sir Mark Prescott’s Timoshenko, another runner sent up from HQ, is four out of four this season with two wins coming at Chepstow and others at Lingfield and Ayr.

Top-weight is Austrian School, trained by Mark Johnston who will shortly overtake Richard Hannon to become the winning-most trainer in the history of British racing.

He won three times last year and has been running well in defeat, including a second in Listed company this term.

Keith Dalgleish-trained Gallus is the sole Scottish runner and, tackling handicap company for the first time, could be an improver at this longer trip.

Armageddon got off the mark at the second attempt when making all over six furlongs at Haydock and can carry on the good work in the EBF Miller Homes Conditions Stakes. The Bryan Smart trained youngster blew the start on his debut, yet finished eyecatchingly to take third place in a Thirsk maiden. He looks a sharp sort and this track should suit, as long as he exits the stalls on an even keel.

Brighton specialist Roy Rocket can register his ninth course success in the kew electrical Handicap. John Berry’ s eight-year-old nearly always performs with credit at the Sussex venue and seems sure to go well again after returning from a month’s break.

Jack Taylor has shown a liking for this course with two wins there this season and he can make it three in the Harry Bloom Memorial ‘Brighton Bullet’ Handicap.

The Richard Hughes-trained three-year-old promises to benefit from a drop back in class and a step back up in trip after a respectable effort at Goodwood last week, when he was fourth to Lord Riddiford.

All six of Trulee Scrumptious’s victories have come on Newmarket’s July course and the nine-year-old can add to her tally in the Fly London Southend Airport To Prague Handicap.

She was beaten on her latest start when fourth to Big Storm Coming, but that was over an inadequate distance of seven furlongs and in a higher grade. The ten furlongs will be much more to her liking and she is also down in class.