Racing Review - The Virgin Bet Scottish Sprint Cup Raceday

Al Qareem produced another of a his trademark super-tough performances as the curtain was raised for the new Scottish Flat season at Musselburgh.

Having made most of the running, Karl Burke’s seven-year-old was headed briefly by runner-up Mount Atlas before battling back to land the £80,000 Listed Goliath Cup by half a length.

It was also a comeback winner for Clifford Lee, who only returned to action at Newcastle 24 hours earlier after a serious motor cycle accident in Scotland last autumn.

“He’s just so tough this horse and he never knows when he’s beaten,” Lee said. “We got headed but you just know he’s going to keep finding and that’s my ninth win on him.”

The opening Royal Mile Handicap went to Burke’s 4/1 chance Strength Of Spirit, who saw off Vincenzo Peruggia by a length.

“I got a lead so I was able to drop him out,” said winning jockey Sam James. “It was first time at the trip and I’d say he would stay a little bit further.”

Team Player made it two wins from two starts since moving to Ewan Whillans with a fluent success under Greg Fairley in the Queen’s Cup.

“He was actually bought to go hurdling but we’re going to have some fun with him on he Flat by the look of it,” Whillans said. “He came here for the schooling day and it’s definitely helped him - the Chester Cup and maybe the Northumberland Plate consolation race could be on the agenda later in the year.”

Locally-born Andrew Mullen scored on Bellarchi for Grant Tuer in the Silver Arrow Handicap.

Sent off at 14/1, the mare was winning her third race from just four visits to the East Lothian venue.

“Ollie Stammers, her regular rider, couldn’t do the weight but he gave me all the info I needed and I carried out his instructions perfectly,” Mullen said. “She’s pretty game and obviously loves it here and it all went pretty smoothly.”

William Pyle’s first ride on turf this season was a winning one as Pilgrim took the Scottish Sprintt Cup for David & Nicola Barron by a short-head from Gangsta Man.

For more information contact Gordon Brown on 07850 258063 for Scottish Racing.