Musselburgh Racecourse© Photo Healy Racing
There is Irish interest at this afternoon’s meeting in Musselburgh with John McConnell and Stuart Crawford both travelling over runners to the Scottish track.
McConnell enjoyed a great year in 2021 when sending out over 50 Flat and jumps winners between the UK and Ireland, and the Stamullen trainer is doubly represented at Musselburgh.
Drumbear faces four rivals in the Betway Maiden Hurdle (1.30pm) and Simon Torrens has been booked to ride the Downpatrick bumper winner.
The six-year-old gelding was described as a big baby after scoring at the northern track last March and the following month finished a close-up third in an Ayr winners’ bumper that has worked out well since.
McConnell is also represented by Champagnesocialist in the Betway Casino Open National Hunt Flat Race (3.30pm).
The Fame And Glory mare filled the runner-up spot on both previous bumper outings for Tom Taaffe behind useful types in Chemical Energy and Grangee but now reappears after an absence of over 14 months.
Torrens’ mount is likely to be one of the leading fancies in this 11-runner event along with the Crawford-trained Holmes St Georges.
The Saddler Maker gelding carries the two tone green colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, and showed promise on his only previous start at Ballinrobe last spring.
