Crotchet ready to call the tune at Musselburgh

● Fahey raider on the right track to land fillies’ prize

Paul Hanagan returns to the scene of a recent four-timer at Musselburgh today when his rides include Crotchet in the feature race.

Richard Fahey’s Malton raider, the third of Hanagan’s quartet just under three weeks ago, faces five rivals in the £15,000 EBF Stallions Winners Fillies’ Handicap. Hanagan said: “She deserved to get her head in front as she’d been running well in some competitive races this year. She’s back over the same course and distance and she picked up well for me last time in another fillies handicap.”

The opposition to Crotchet includes Whatsthemessage trained by Keith Dalgleish who won the race in 2015 and 2106 with Invoke.

Britain’s winning-most trainer Mark Johnston saddles Rebel Assault while joint top-weight Richenza is a rare Musselburgh raider for Hampshire trainer Ralph Beckett.

Tom Dascombe has recorded only one previous winner at the East Lothian venue and the Cheshire handler sends up Starfighter and Mac O’polo from his Malpas base.

The former goes in the opening 188Bet Mobile Bet10 Get20 British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes while the latter is in the 188Bet Extra Place Races Handicap which includes Rebecca Menziestrained Trautmann who is after his third course and distance win on the bounce.

Meanwhile, Romaana hit the bar last time out when things did not pan out totally in her favour, so compensation hopefully awaits in the Get So Much More With Racing UK Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Catterick, writes Glendale.

She did not get the best of starts on her handicap bow at Wolverhampton and eventually had to give best to a rival who had achieved a much handier placing through the early stages. Simon Crisford switches back to novice company and it is easy to see why, as Romaana has a chunk in hand on the official numbers.

Thunder Speed may have been well beaten in third when last seen but should not be dismissed in the 32Red On The App Store Handicap at Kempton. Thunder Speed just appeared to be lacking a bit of match practice earlier this month on what was his first start since last December.