Gordon Brown – Race Reporter
Gordon has a wealth of experience of racing through his background in the written and broadcast media. His current principle role is reporting and supporting the scene in Scotland on Racing TV and relaying the latest news with Scottish angles.
Lucinda Russell is double-handed in the £25,000 feature race on the opening card of Musselburgh’s eleven-meeting strong jumps campaign on Wednesday.
The Arlary handler saddles Rapid Raider and Stylish Moment in the Prince Philip Perpetual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase over a marathon trip of almost four miles.
Russell said: “Rapid Raider has been transformed by a wind operation and may not have reached his ceiling yet. He’s a bit more relaxed now and he stays a lot better as a result.”
“Stylish Moment ran a super race on his debut for us at Kelso last season but, later in the autumn, suffered a nasty bout of colic which ruled him out for the rest of the season. His comeback at Carlisle recently was good and certainly something to build on.”
Grand National-winning trainer Dr Richard Newland, 2-6 with his Worcestershire raiders at the East Lothian venue, has the likely favourite in Wake Up Early, who has been raised 10lbs for a 16-length romp at Market Rasen in May.
The race also sees Coup De Pinceau become the first runner in Scotland for second-season Dorset trainer Syd Hosie.
Formerly with several stables, the gelding was a winner over hurdles at Musselburgh in 2018 when with Paul Nicholls.
The afternoon starts with the Cala Homes (East) Scotland Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle in which Conor Rabbitt and Rickety Gate bid to follow up their recent comfortable success at Kelso.