Economic Crisis hopes to defy age gap as Musselburgh racing returns
● 11-year-old has five course and distance victories for Ayrshire owner
Economic Crisis is the eldest performer on parade at Musselburgh today in the Good To Go On Racingtv Handicap.
Trained near Lancaster by Alan Berry, the 11-year-old mare has won 14 of her 137 career starts with five victories over today’s five-furlong course and distance.
Economic Crisis carries the black and white check colours of Ayrshire farmer William Burns and her recent seasonal comeback saw her finish a close sixth at Hamilton Park.
Berry said: “She’s been a legend really and the first seven wins of her career actually were at Hamilton Park. She ran pretty well on her first run of the year the other day and she won’t mind any rain.”
While the Lancashire raider is likely to be one of the outsiders in the nine-strong field, Paul Midgley pair Desert Ace and The Defiant are much more prominent in the betting.
The former, a course and distance winner last summer, was once rated as high as 94 and now races off two-stone lower. Stable companion The Defiant is having his second run following wind surgery and was a well-backed Musselburgh winner last spring.
The afternoon gets underway with the EBF Maiden Stakes for two-year-olds in which newcomer Chase The Dollar catches the eye. Trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Joe Fanning, the colt is a son of the mighty Frankel while his dam is closely related to 1991 Derby hero Generous.
The blue and white King Power silks of Leicester City owners’ fame are sported by
Moon Power in the Watch Racingtv In Stunning HD Handicap. Connections will be hoping the fitting of a visor brings about improvement as Karl Burke’s filly tackles handicap company for the first time off her lowly mark.
The one to beat appears to be John Quinn’s progressive Bal Mal who shoulders a double penalty of 12lb for two recent romps at Beverley and Redcar.
Rhona Pindar, originally from Forres, rides one of the market principals in the shape of Tarnhelm in the racingtv. com Handicap over a mile. The mare, trained in County Durham by veteran handler Wilf Storey, scrambled home by a neck over a similar trip at Thirsk eight days ago and could go close again under a 5lb penalty.
Kevin Ryan and Kevin Stott, who teamed up to take the final day of Royal Ascot by storm, are represented by Moonlighting in the Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap.
The Hambleton filly is only 2lb higher following her handicap debut strike at Thirsk a fortnight ago.
The eight-race meeting is the first at Musselburgh since lockdown was eased.
All attendees have had to complete a Covid-19 education module and an on-line health questionnaire while they will be asked further health questions and have their temperature taken on arrival.
In areas such as the paddock, appropriate PPE – such as face masks – must be worn and social distancing observed. There will also be a ready supply of hand sanitiser.
It will also be the first action at Musselburgh since Chester Race Company officially took over an operating agreement last week. CRC were selected by course owners East Lothian Council as preferred operator for an initial ten-year period and the Scottish track now joins Bangor and Chester in their portfolio.
Pearl Beach can take the Field Head Handicap at Leicester after showing her turn was near with an encouraging effort on her reappearance at Chelmsford recently.
The four-year-old, trained by William Knight, stayed on well at the end of the mile and a half to snatch third place behind Monsaraz. She tackles a further two furlongs this time which should eke out more improvement.
Shine That Light can gleam when dropped back to the minimum trip for the Gent Transport And Warehousing Novice Auction Stakes at Chepstow.
Third over five furlongs on his debut at Wolverhampton, trainer Richard Hughes tried the Acclamation colt over six at Kempton, but Shine The Light appeared unsuited by the extra furlong as he faded in the closing stages.
Wentworth Falls has shown plenty of promise on both his starts since returning from a long break and can make it third time lucky at Doncaster.
The eight-year-old shaped well until tiring close home when fourth on his first run for 265 days over six furlongs at Newmarket four weeks ago.
He backed that up with an eyecatching effort over five furlongs at Ayr last week. He put in good late work in second behind National Anthem, who has franked the form by winning again on Friday.