MUSSELBURGH report By Gordon Brown

Published 2020/01/17

Trained by Tony Martin, the popular 6-4 favourite slammed front-running Seaborough by eight lengths in the Betway Handicap Hurdle, a qualifier for the Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final.

Co Meath-based Martin said: “We came for the better ground and he’s done it very well so the boys who own him will have a good night tonight.

He was a hard horse to keep right but he won on he Flat at Dundalk and we knew we had him in good form.”

Martin an Enright completed doubles when Good Time Jonny, set off the 5-6 favourite, was a seven-length scorer over Chuvelo in the concluding Betway Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

There were three Scottish winners on the card for Keith Dalgleish, Sandy Thomson and Lucinda Russell.

Dalgleish, who saddled a tartan record 118 winners (Flat and jumps combined) in 2019, struck with Brian Hughes ridden Highway Companion in the opening 2m 4f handicap hurdle.

At 20-lengths, Thomson’s Buckled, partnered by Ryan Mania, produced the widest winning margin of the day while Russell’s strike came courtesy of Izzy’s Champion in the 2m 4f handicap chase.