Tanasoq Flat out to win at Musselburgh

● Midgley’s ‘over-priced’ sprinter pips the favourite in feature after late flurry of bets

Tanasoq was a well-backed winner of the feature race on the opening day of Scotland’s new Flat season at Musselburgh yesterday.

One of four horses in the Borderlescott Sprint Trophy for Paul Midgley, the Graham Lee-ridden speedster was supported from 20-1 into 12-1 before pipping 7-4 favourite El Astronaute by a head.

Yorkshire-based Midgley said: “I thought this horse was overpriced so this came as no surprise. I said he could be rated 100 by the end of the season but that’s going to happen much sooner now as he was running off 94 today so maybe the big sprint here on Easter Saturday would be on the agenda now.”

The card opened with Proper Beau, initiating a Lee double, beating Alminoor by a neck with the pair pulling well clear of their rivals in the Watch Racing TV Now Novice Stakes.

Winning trainer Bryan Smart said: “I’d have been disappointed if he hadn’t been in the first three as I like him a lot. He’s so laid back he’s horizontal and there’s a fair bit of improvement to come – I always bring nice horses here, it’s been a lucky track for me.”

Carrutherstown handler Iain Jardine struck in the Follow @

0 Trainer Paul Midgley was on target at Musselburgh yesterday.

racingtv On Twitter Handicap when Sioux Frontier won at the second time of asking for his new connections.

Formerly trained by Richard Fahey, he sprung a 14-1 upset in the hands of Lewis Edmunds with Jim Goldie’s pair Pammi and Elite Icon in second and third.

Meanwhile, Indianapolis may head to Musselburgh for the Queen’s Cup Handicap on Easter Saturday following his fine effort at Doncaster.

The Galileo colt outran his odds of 50-1 on Sunday to finish second to Group One regular Red Verdon on his second start for James Given.

The four-year-old was bought privately out of Aidan O’brien’s stable, where he was

top Group performer Gustav Klimt’s lead horse.

“He’d had one run for us before but this was his first run on turf, so we were delighted with it,” said Given.

“The slow early pace didn’t suit our horse, who looks like staying is going to be his game.

“We’re looking at a mile and three-quarters next. I’m thinking if we’ve got a bit of weight in hand the race we have in mind is the Queen’s Cup. It gives us three weeks between the races, and it has a nice pot.”

At Kempton this evening, Scorched Breath has a tempting profile for the 32Red Casino Handicap.

Charlie Fellowes’ gelding has hinted at potential in three novice runs and makes his handicap debut off what may prove a very fair rating.

Scorched Breath was outpointed by a racecourse debutant when a three-quarterlength second over this course and distance three weeks ago.

He retains the hood and tongue strap, having stayed on with unavailing purpose for an improved effort over a furlong further than he had tried previously. The same formula is well worth another try at this realistic level.

Blazon, meanwhile, can extend his all-weather conquests to Southwell in the Betway Marathon Handicap.

Stamina is a proven forte for Kim Bailey’s six-year-old, and will be key on the Fibresand for this test over two miles and two and a half furlongs.

Blazon has found his metier this winter with a hat-trick of fine staying performances to win twice at Kempton and once at Wolverhampton in January and February.

He returns to this surface, having signed off before his winning spree as fifth of nine in a November maiden here when he was unable to pick up to significant effect over only a mile and a half.

Blazonnevermanagedtowin in ten attempts over jumps – including most recently when last of five in a novices’ handicap chase at Warwick last autumn. The absence of pesky obstacles is clearly much to his liking, though, as is an extended distance – so expect him to be in his element on his return to this track.