ITV Racing Tips: Two Picks From Musselburgh

Despite most eyes in the racing world surely drifting over the Irish Sea to the Dublin Racing Festival, there is some smashing action in Britain on ITV Racing from Musselburgh and Sandown to get stuck into. Billy Grimshaw has two recommended bets, both north of the border...
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13:42 Musselburgh - Scottish Triumph Hurdle
Kicking things off on ITV Racing from Scotland, the four year olds collide up at Musselburgh and there has to be serious respect given to Irish raider Luker's Tipple given the money is already coming. He has done nothing wrong in his two jumping runs so far at home and was a decent proposition on the flat, so if he continues to be backed the expectation is we will see a massive run. On bare form, however, I can't back him at just a point bigger than the much more proven market leader Maitre En Science for Harry Derham.
The trainer has had a rotten winter since his gallop was destroyed in the floods, and as expected the form of the yard has taken a bit of a nosedive. They seem to be through the worst of it and this lad sets the standard on his two wins over in France. At a price, however, I'm going to chance Lucinda Russell's JOHNNY RINGO at as big as 20/1 in places to continue his upwardly mobile trajectory in this much tougher race.
He is a course and distance winner, albeit in a race almost all entrants in here would be disappointed not to win, but he seemed to relish the job that day and I'm hopeful this has been his big target. If Patrick Wadge takes the bull by the horns and tries to nick the race from the front, it could take a few of these more inexperienced types out of their comfort zone and although one or two may be good enough to get past, he makes a lot of appeal each-way to my eye.
14:17 Musselburgh - Scottish County Hurdle
I'm really sweet on AFADIL to retain this crown, and with the Nicholls yard out of form we are getting a bigger price at around 4/1 than we'd ever be getting were team Ditcheat to be rolling in the winners. Musselburgh is one of those tracks where course form is absolutely crucial and sometimes in racing the most obvious answer is the right one staring you right in the face.
It would be a surprise were Nicholls not to have been working back from this valuable pot all year for Afadil considering the fact he won here as a juvenile and again in this race the following year, and with the ground once again set to be good up in Scotland - a stark contrast to expected conditions at Sandown - he should be the one they all have to beat. Freddie Gingell has also proven himself very much worth his claim and I'll be flaggergasted if this lad isn't there or thereabouts come the finish.
Florida Dreams for Nicky Richards rates the chief threat as despite a season trying all sorts of trips, he looks to be a two miler and good ground also should bring out the best in him. Harry Derham's Balhambar also has his chance but he's going to have to put in a career best to give an on song Afadil weight and a beating. Take the 4/1 if you can.