Mcmenamin and Tommy’s Oscar can be the stars at Musselburgh
Danny Mcmenamin, who is on the verge of losing his 3lb allowance, is aboard Tommy’s Oscar in the feature race at Musselburgh today.
Mcmenamin and Tommy’s Oscar face seven rivals in the Betway Handicap Hurdle, whichisaqualifierforthechallenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final.
Trained in Northumberland by Ann Hamilton, the six-yearold makes his debut in handicapcompanyfollowingimpressive wins in maiden and novice hurdles at Sedgefield and Newcastle last month.
Mcmenamin,whohasgained six of his 72 career wins at the East Lothian venue, said: “He won a point to point in Ireland in October and hadn’t been withmrandmrshamiltonlong beforeirodehimwhenhecame second in a bumper. He’s certainly known his job over hurdles so far and might just turn out to be pretty decent.”
The opposition to Tommy’s Oscarincludesgoobinator,ridden by champion jockey Brian Hughes, and top-weight Vision
Du Puy, a mare representing Dan and Harry Skelton in the J P Mcmanus colours.
The seven-race card is subject to an precautionary 8am inspection and if it gets the go ahead, another two siblings will team up when Tom Scudamore gets the leg up on Shattered Glass, trained by brother Michael,inthebetwaynovices’ Handicap Chase.
Thepairarealsoinactionwith Sashenka in the opening Betway Cosmic Case Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
Meanwhile, Lord Riddiford journeystochelmsfordingood form and can leave with a victoryinthetote.co.uklivestreaming
All UK Races Handicap.
John Quinn's sprinter has run three massive races since having his attentions switched to the all-weather at the end of the turf season.
A winner at Wolverhampton from a mark of 90 in November, he then went close when third over the same course and distance he faces here off a 5lb higher mark.
The handicapper dropped him 1lb for that defeat and he again showed plenty from his revised rating when second to Venturous, a classy sort who proved that fact when bolting up in a conditions event next time out and boasts a rating of 103.
Quinn seems to favour giving Lordriddifordabreakbetween his races and, off a 35-day absence, everything looks to be in his favour.
Strawbshasobviouslyhadher issues but seemingly possesses ability, an impression she can underline in the CCR Novice Stakes.
Mike Murphy's charge was an 18-1 chance first time out at Chelmsford last month, but the fact the trainer went to the trouble of booking Hollie Doyle suggests he expected a decent showing.
Her inexperience certainly showedintheearlystagesasshe gave away plenty of lengths on leaving the stalls, but she fairly flew home.
It is hard to get carried away with the form, but she should be given at least one chance to confirm she might be as good as she looked there.