It’s looking crystal clear for Ellison

BRIAN ELLISON may have found a winning opportunity for his lightly-raced six-yearold Ballycrystal at Sedgefield today.

The son of top sire Oscar has only been to the races 10 times, so there should still be some improvement left in him for the North Yorkshire yard.

A point and bumper winner, Ballycrystal has won two hurdles – one at today’s track. You can ignore his last run at Musselburgh, when he was last of five.

He was virtually pulled up, stepped up to three miles in a Class 2 novice event – but was found to have burst a blood vessel and has been given a nice four-week break.

The 10lb allowance claimed by stable apprentice Aiden Blakemore could prove decisive for Shaun Harris in the two-mile handicap hurdle.

He has brought Aza Run up from Nottinghamshire in a bid to follow up a narrow verdict from Lake Chapala in a similar contest at Leicester.

The handicapper has reacted with a very fair 2lb rise, and the jockey’s allowance takes his racing weight down to 10st 8lb.

Appletree Lane took a big step toward winning a race at Market Rasen two weeks ago, when she was beaten a length by the heavily-backed Lady Markby.

Tom Gretton’s mare has only had eight tries, and the way she quickened with the winner suggests that the trip is fine and her turn not too far away.