Irish Raider Looks Interesting At Musselburgh

Barenice was supported in the market yesterday and was sent off at just 10/1, He didn't make the frame though and looked badly in need of the run. He travelled well for a long way and it certainly wasn't a run devoid of promise. One for the notebook and another day.

Tomorrow there is some decent national hunt action in the UK, and the horse that catches my eye is Empresario, a 6yo gelding I tipped up to win at the Galway festival (here) at a very nice price. That was a brilliant display, and the form stands up to scrutiny.

Guitar Pete was 2l behind in 2nd that day (in receipt of 4lb from Empresario), and he subsequently got to within a nose of Shadow Catcher, who ran well behind P'tit Zig last weekend in the Grade 2 Powers Chase at Down Royal. Hash Brown was a further 6l back (off level weights) and he won a handicap off 121 last week.

On a literal reading of the Guitar Pete form Empresario looks to be a few pounds well in (Shadow Catcher earned an Official Rating of 133 for that Down Royal Run) off his British mark of 128. Now admittedly he hasn't run well on his two runs since Galway, but the first run came on soft and he is much better on decent ground, which he gets today.

He is reunited with Mark Enright for the first time since that Galway win and Matthew Smith had a runner go close at Musselburgh on Thursday. He has been given a nice little 41 day break since his last poor run in Navan. He has won one and been placed on four of his eight chase starts, and as a 6yo he surely has scope for further progress over fences. If the rain stays away and the going remains good then Empresario looks sure to make a bold bid to give his young Co.Meath trainer his first overseas winner.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 3.30 MUSSELBURGH EMPRESARIO 14/1