Scottish racing rises but Ireland scoop big prize at Musselburgh
WITH Scottish racing enjoying a golden period, it was Irish challenger Carbon Dating who claimed top honours in the inaugural running of the totepool Queen’s Cup at Musselburgh yesterday.
The richest day in the Perth’s racecourse calendar, Grand National hero One For Arthur was paraded round the stands as Scotland enjoys a racing renaissance.
However, with a total prize fund of £100,000 up for grabs, a strong field of 13 runners for the Queen’s Cup was claimed by Carbon Dating for Ireland.
Pat Shanahan’s horse was a 12-1 shot in the hands of Tadhg O’Shea but made a mockery of those odds with an easy win
O’Shea said: ‘All credit to the horse, he’s had a busy campaign.
‘He ran all summer last year and went on to Dubai. He won two races out there, was placed in three Carnival handicaps and rounded off in Abu Dhabi being placed in a Group Three.
‘He’s a model of consistency. It was a great pot and a good bit of placing by Pat Shanahan.’
Sammy Jo Bell rode her first winner since returning from injury after Cullingworth displayed admirable tenacity to claim the totepoolliveinfo.com Royal Mile.
The highly-rated apprentice had to spend several weeks in a wheelchair after she underwent a pelvic operation following a heavy fall at Carlisle last May.
After a lengthy rehabilitation, Bell steered 16-1 chance Cullingworth to a game victory over Grey Britain.
Elsewhere, Excellently Poised made a winning racecourse debut in the toteexacta EBF Stallions Conditions Stakes.
Part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, Bryan Smart’s juvenile was an 8-1 shot under Connor Beasley.
Meanwhile, Paul Nicholls’ star chaser Vicente could not get past the first fence at Aintree last weekend but the blunder could be a blessing in disguise as the pair head to Ayr to defend their Scottish Grand National title on Saturday.
Vicente had barely got into his stride in the National before parting company with jockey Brian Hughes and it means the eight-year-old is as fresh as a daisy and raring to go for next weekend’s showpiece.
‘It was frustrating but that’s the National,’ said Nicholls. ‘You’d rather that happened at the first than the 21st. He seemed well beforehand. He does come right at this time of year.’
Vicente is bidding to become the first horse since Androma in 1985 to win back-to-back Scottish Nationals and has to be feared given how well he took to the course 12 months ago.
Sam Twiston-Davies, who rode Vicente to glory last year, will have to choose between several Nicholls runners, including the Arpege D’Alene, who came fourth in the JT McNamara Chase at Cheltenham.