WHO would have believed it? A valuable sprint handicap in which David Nicholls doesn't have more entries than all the other trainers combined.
Ok, that's a slight exaggeration but the Thirsk handler, who has already landed the Ayr Gold Cup this term, is being unusually selective as far as Saturday's York Sprint, which will of course be run at Musselburgh (explanation to follow), is concerne
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Having indulged in a tit-for-tat swap that saw the Scottish Sprint flit temporarily over the Border to the Knavesmire venue in May, Musselburgh now gets the chance to stage the White Rose version and with £60,000 to be won, the Channel 4-televised five-furlong dash will headline the richest day's flat racing ever staged at the East Lothian track. Prize money in excess of £150,000 is up for grabs so it's hardly surprising the big race has attracted a high-class entry of 64, and while only 17 of those will make the final line-up, there's a nice consolation event worth £20,000 earlier on the card for those who don't make the cut.
The 105-rated Judd Street will head the weights for the Sprint, although Ayrshire-owned Hogmaneigh might be a more popular winner as far as the locals were concerned.
Team Nicholls can muster no more than a quartet of possibles, albeit rivals might view that relatively skimpy number in two ways. Either the yard is running out of sprinters, which seems unlikely, or Nicholls is happy to have 'only' four attempts at hitting another bullseye.
Jim Goldie heads the home charge with six entries and Linda Perratt has a couple, while Sandwith is pencilled in for his first outing for George Foster although exactly how many of the Caledonian contingent squeeze into the race remains to be seen.
Which seems an appropriate time to remind any member of the Tartan Army who can't make it to Hampden for the World Cup clash with Norway this weekend that the Musselburgh tellies will be showing the game live.
This afternoon's fayre is nowhere near as appetising as the mouth-watering delights in store on Saturday but Folkestone's card could offer consolation for a couple of the numerous horses who decided not to take up yesterday's engagement at Warwick.
Mango Mischief has the in-form Haajes to beat in the Westenhanger Handicap and might be up to it, while Charles Darwin can atone for a disappointing display at Goodwood last time out. Michael Blanshard's five-year-old beat only one home that day but any horse can be forgiven a lack-lustre show on the unique contours of the Sussex Downs and he's better judged on his two previous appearances.
Charles Darwin can defy top-weight. If he was smart enough to sort out all that evolution malarkey, landing the best bet should be a dawdle.
• Timeform have rated Zarkava the third-best filly in modern times on 133 after her two-length victory in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Timeform spokesman Simon Walker said: "She's one of the best fillies in recent memory and, still unbeaten, has the potential to be the best "
The full article contains 532 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
