Noche Clasica to strike Musselburgh gold

Noche Clasica can maintain her perfect start for Ed Bethell in the Sky Bet For The Fans Holyrood Handicap at Musselburgh.

The Night Of Thunder filly won once from three starts for Kevin Ryan in the early part of last season before switching to James Owen.

She won impressively at Goodwood on her first start for the Newmarket handler before coming home third in a valuable Ascot handicap.

The four-year-old then joined Bethell’s Middleham operation and made an immediate impact, coming home half a length clear of the field at Redcar in October.

Noche Clasica is up 6lb on her seasonal reappearance, but she is open to further improvement and can take a step up to nine furlongs in her stride.

Adonius is expected to complete a quickfire Musselburgh double in the curtain-raising Sky Bet Club British EBF Novice Stakes.

The Soldier’s Call gelding travelled strongly on his racecourse debut at the Scottish circuit before pulling away for a visually impressive seven-length success in the hands of Kaiya Fraser.

One of the newcomers will have to be pretty smart to prevent the Rebecca Menzies-trained juvenile from following up under a penalty.

Charlie Johnston is fancied to land a double with Suddenly I See and L’Eagle Aid.

Suddenly I See has been off the track for 211 days, but can demonstrate that is no problem in the Enter ITV7 For Free Handicap.

The son of Ribchester debuted here last summer and was only beaten a length and a half into third place, after which he returned to the track and made his experience count by breaking his maiden.

A mark of 73 may underestimate him ahead of his reappearance and handicap debut.

L’Eagle Aid finished down the field on his return at Newcastle, but should strip fitter for the Sky Bet Extra Places Handicap.

The five-year-old won twice over this extended mile and a half trip last season and strike again just 2lb above his last winning mark.

Applesandpears goes in search of a hat-trick in the Sky Bet Build A Bet Fillies’ Handicap.

The Havana Gold filly was beaten just a length and a quarter on debut over six furlongs at Leicester in October and stepped up to seven at Chelmsford she proved too good when beating the field by three lengths.

She then made all at Newcastle when dropped back to six at a short price to again comfortably demonstrate her class and this first foray over a mile should be within her compass.

Over the jumps in the Bruton Mares’ Handicap Chase at Wincanton, Queens Gamble can defy top weight.

Never out of the first three all season, she can follow up her Listed success at the Somerset track in February with another victory back in handicap company.

Doujadou is the pick to make home advantage count for Rebecca Curtis and Sean Bowen in the Amroth Bay Static Caravan Sales Maiden Hurdle at Ffos Las.

SELECTIONS:

DOWN ROYAL: 1.55 Miss Doyenne, 2.30 Pleasureofpressure, 3.05 King Gris, 3.35 Lecale’s Diamond, 4.07 Ballybow, 4.37 The Gradual Slope, 5.07 Plain Or Battered.

FFOS LAS: 2.03 Yanka Blue, 2.38 Doujadou, 3.13 My Boy Aaron, 3.50 Fresh Speculation, 4.20 Boston Joe, 4.50 Mythe Bridge, 5.20 Bradman.

LEOPARDSTOWN: 2.10 Institute, 2.45 Miss Americana, 3.20 Fixation, 3.55 Dorset, 4.25 True Love, 4.55 Pierre Bonnard, 5.25 Cape Cod.

MUSSELBURGH: 3.45 Adonius, 4.15 Suddenly I See, 4.45 Applesandpears, 5.15 NOCHE CLASICA (NAP), 5.45 L’Eagle Aid, 6.15 Cargin Bhui, 6.45 Al Hussar.

WINCANTON: 1.47 Masterdream, 2.20 Byzantium, 2.55 Kilnew Supreme, 3.27 Redbridge Rambler, 4.00 Khafre, 4.30 Queens Gamble, 5.00 Ugo Bingo, 5.30 Sorgean.

Double: Noche Clasica and Applesandpears.