LION TOWER landed the £20,000 Stobo Castle Gold Cup on a sold out Ladies Day card at Musselburgh on Friday.
Ridden by Sam James and trained by Grant Tuer, the 2/1 favourite saw off fast-finishing Be Proud by half a length.
James, who has won four races on the four-year-old this season, said: “He has done really well since coming to Ed’s yard and I think there is even more to come. He could get even better next season so there is a lot to look forward to. He only usually just does enough so it helps his handicap mark that he never win by very far.”
James went on to complete a quick-fire double on Keith Dalgleish-trained Donizetti, a well-supported winner of the following Champagne Pommery Cuvee Louise Handicap.
Iain Jardine and Andrew Mullen teamed up for a 50/1 double with Never Dark and Smart Lass.
The latter has never won anywhere else and was scooping her fifth victory at the East Lothian venue. Her locally-based owner Gerry McGladery, a former leading owner on the Flat and over jumps at Musselburgh, plans to get her in foal with a stallion with a bit of speed in his pedigree.