Fanning is hoping blinkers will help Prestbury Park regain juvenile form

Prestbury Park bids to recapture his early form as a juvenile in the Witherby Handicap at Musselburgh today.

Trained by Mark Johnston, he won two of his first three starts last year and was at one time rated 90, 12lbs above the mark he races off today.

He sports first-time blinkers and jockey Joe Fanning said: “We thought early on during his two-year-old days on he might turn out to be useful but he has been a bit disappointing. Hopefully the first-time headgear will sharpen him up because the ability is there.”

At the East Lothian venue yesterday, the well-backed Rebel Assault came out on top in a grandstand finish to the feature race.

Supported in to 3-1 from 5-1, Joe Fanning drove her to a neck success over Oriental Lilly in the EBF Stallions Winners Fillies’ Handicap. The 5-2 favourite Crotchet was the same distance back in third.

Winning owner Martin Budden said: “She is a half-sister to Alexander M and, like him, she seems to come to hand later in the season. I’m not sure where she will go next but hopefully she will keep her form into the autumn.”

Archipeligo landed the 188Bet Extra Place Races Handicap for Iain Jardine and Jamie Gormley. The 10-1 chance gained the eighth win of his career and Jardine said: “It wasn’t the greatest of races and a few of his rivals didn’t seem to want to win!”

At Chelmsford today, Eirene can make the most of a drop in company for the Greene King IPA Fillies’ Conditions Stakes at Chelmsford.

A Listed winner and Group Three-placed as a juvenile, it is easy to see why Dean Ivory felt Pattern race assignments would be just the ticket this term but it proved too much.

A confidence-boosting win today would likely do Eirene the world of good and the conditions of this race give her every chance.