GRAND FINAL
Well-drawn speedster can show Sprint rivals clean pair of heels
FINAL VENTURE can end a frustrating run with a win in the Scottish Sprint Cup (3.00) at Musselburgh.
It was in June 2017 that the Paul Midgleytrained speedster last saw the inside of a winner’s enclosure.
But Final Venture has run some cracking races in defeat in that time, making the frame in competitive sprints at Newcastle, Meydan, York and Haydock in a busy campaign last year.
At last the assessor is beginning to show the seven-year-old some leniency – his mark of 103 is 9lb lower than at his peak in high summer two years ago.
And the draw gods have also played their part – a berth in stall 17 means jockey Paul Mulrennan has the stands’ rail – a big advantage over five furlongs at Musselburgh – close at hand.
Midgley saddled stablemate Line Of Reason to capture this contest in 2017, and Final Venture is taken to give the North Yorkshire trainer a second triumph in the space of three years.
Mark Johnston’s REGGAE RUNNER looks well treated in the Royal Mile Handicap (2.25).
The son of
Lethal Force got off the mark at the third attempt with a two-anda-half-length margin at Lingfield in mid-february – and has the improvement to go past his rating of 82.
Musselburgh’s opening Silver Arrow Handicap (1.50) rates a good opportunity for RASELASAD to go one better after a fine return-to-action second over this course and distance 18 days ago.
Haydock stages a valuable jumps card, and QUARENTA can provide the solution to the Betway Challenger Staying Chase Series Final Handicap Chase (2.40).
Either side of a belowpar run at Newbury in January, the Jonjo O’neill trainee collected twice at Warwick and has more to offer as he competes over the larger obstacles for just the fifth time.
He has been off since December, but CAUSE TOUJOURS (left) should give a good account in the Betway Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle (2.05), while SKIDOOSH is the choice for the Betway Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle (3.15).