'He's handicapped to win' - William Muir and Chris Grassick hoping 9-1 shot can extend excellent run of form

William Muir and Chris Grassick are a training combination to follow right now having saddled two winners from their last five runners, and the partnership will go in search of further success at Newmarket on Wednesday.

The duo said goodbye to stable star Pyledriver earlier this week but can be buoyed by their excellent form, which was underlined by 79-rated juvenile Hedge Fund finishing an excellent fourth in a Listed race at Deauville on Thursday.

"They're running very well and they're in good form," Muir said. The trainer is hoping the consistent Ebt's Guard, who he purchased for just 5,000gns as a yearling, can get off the mark in the concluding 7f nursery (5.20).

"He's been an absolutely super horse to have anything to do with," he said. "I bought him in the December sales for very little money. He's got talent but he's been slightly unlucky not to win by now.

"He's on a mark of 79 but I think he's handicapped to win and that's fair. He'll handle the ground because he ran very well on it at Newbury. I think he's capable of winning races and getting better. He's still showing loads at home and he's in good shape."

The yard's other runner, another juvenile called Spaceport, who runs in the 1m2f nursery, took a significant step forward over this trip last time and is from a family Muir knows well and has had success with.

"Spaceport ran really well last time when stepping up in trip," he said. "He's a nice horse and he's related to Restorer, who we trained a few years ago. If they get lots and lots of rain he'll act on it but I'm not sure he's as good, but it's at Newmarket so we've got a chance of the ground being okay.

"He ran very well and Windsor last time, I thought he was going there to win and the other horse just battled back past him. He's in good shape and he's in there with a shout."

Spotlight comments

Spaceport (3.35 Newmarket)

Promising second on debut; filled the same position at Windsor (1m2f, good) on the switch to handicap level, splitting High Point and Monterosa; clear possibilities if building on that solid effort.

Ebt's Guard (5.20 Newmarket)

Six-race maiden; best form when placed on three occasions, including close second at Newbury (7f, soft) on penultimate start; return to forecast slow ground looks a plus.

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