'This has been the target all along' - trainer quotes for the Mares' Final

Friday: 3.30 Musselburgh
Go North Lady Buttons Mares' Series Final | 2m4f | 4yo+ | RTV

County Antrim handler Stuart Crawford is well known for his raids on Scotland and while he is far more prolific at Ayr and Perth, his best-strike-rate is at Musselburgh, where he races his horses more sparingly.

Crawford has a 17 per cent strike-rate at the track and his sole runner in the Musselburgh Finals last year ran out a six-length winner of this race at odds of 10-1.

That winner was the mare Island Mahee, who is back for more off a 7lb higher mark and is on offer at a similar price.

She would probably be shorter had she not suffered a 75-length defeat on bad ground at Ayr last time, but that was after a break on ground she does not like and she came into this last year after a 53-length drubbing on a similar surface.

Island Mahee does face plenty of seemingly progressive mares in what is arguably the most competitive heat of the meeting and the one who comes out on top could be the one who settles best.

There are a remarkable amount of keen-goers in this field and they include Millarville and Cancan, who fought out the finish of another handicap over course and distance just over three weeks ago.

Taking a hold did not seem to hinder Millarville all that much as she was always doing enough despite winning by only a neck, although Cancan, who had finished ahead of her at Newcastle over 2m the start prior, was gaining at the line.

There are plenty of other in-form sorts in the line-up including Cailin Dearg and Latino Fling, who were second and third at Sedgefield last time.

Cailin Dearg had six lengths to spare over the third and is now 4lb worse off but, more importantly, Latino Fling did not have the run of the race.

Sent off at odds-on that day on her second run since a wind operation (she won the first easily from Blue Hawaii, who also runs here), she ran into plenty of trouble on the turn for home and was snatched up and forced to switch.

One suspects there is considerably more to come from her and the drying ground is going to suit.
Race analysis by Paul Kealy

What they say

Gary Rutherford, joint-trainer of Millarville
She's been in great form and going back over hurdles seems to have revitalised her. We are closely weighted with several of them but I'm hoping we can squeeze a few more pounds of improvement out of her.

Nick Alexander, trainer of Cancan
This has been the target all along and she's been running well. It's a competitive race but the track and ground should suit her.

Rose Dobbin, trainer of Cailin Dearg
She's a grand little filly and has been running well round Sedgefield. It's a different track and you just don't know whether she will take to it, but she's on a fair mark and the trip is no problem.

Philip Kirby, the trainer of Ravenscar and Misscarlett
I've always thought Ravenscar wanted three miles but that did not seem the case when she just lasted home over two miles in her last jumps race. She is a bit in and out and I expected her to do better on the Flat in her last race. Misscarlett stays well and we gave her a run on the Flat last time to prepare for this.

Ewan Whillans, the trainer of Lizzie Loch
She's progressed well since she had a wind operation. Her Sedgefield run was disappointing but it was an excellent effort over the course and distance last time. I'm hoping the tongue-tie will help and she should be in the mix.

Tjade Collier, the trainer of Blue Hawaii
It was very deep ground when she tried two and a half miles at Kelso and I'm hopeful she'll get home ok on the better ground. I've always thought she was a bit better than her handicap mark.
Reporting by Michael Robson

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