Knot a problem for Crimson
Monday 23 July 2012
Consistent filly Crimson Knot earned a deserved return to the winner's enclosure with a hard-fought victory at Musselburgh.
Lining up eight days after finishing third at Ayr, Alan Berry's charge was second best in the market at 5-2, with course specialist The Nifty Fox the 5-4 favourite after he went one place better in the same contest.
The market principals had it between them heading inside the last of five furlongs and although The Nifty Fox held a clear advantage, Crimson Knot and Tom Eaves wore him down to triumph by a neck in the Musselburgh Festival Handicap.
Lancashire-based Berry said: "I'm delighted to see her get her head in front again as she's kept going up in the weights without winning. She's probably paying the price for being so consistent and she always does her best.
"She likes that bit of cut in the ground and seems to be at her best coming from off the pace. We've reversed form with the runner-up from last week and that is probably down to this bit softer ground. We might give her a bit of a break while the sun shines."
The Nicky Richards-trained Houston Dynimo (6-5 favourite) led his rivals a merry dance in the Brown Shipley Wealth Well Managed Handicap. Paul Mulrennan sent him straight into the lead and the result was scarcely in doubt as he beat Ravi River by six lengths.
Polar Chief made a surprise winning debut in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes. Linda Stubbs' 20-1 chance travelled kindly for James Sullivan and overcame signs of greenness to beat the more experienced Marhaba Malayeen by a head.
Stubbs said: "You never know what to expect first time out and I think he'll probably make a better three-year-old than two-year-old. He handled the soft ground well, and that was probably a big thing as some of the others maybe didn't handle it."
Alnair (5-1) claimed the Scottish Racing Handicap for trainer Declan Carroll and jockey Daniel Tudhope.
Carroll said: "I'm really pleased as he's relatively lightly raced and still a little bit green. He got a right bump two furlongs out but he stuck at it well and got a good ride."
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