Musselburgh Racing Tip: Highland Warrior

Musselburgh is one of the tracks affected by the new stalls numbering system, so it is worth spending a few minutes explaining the change. Last season the stalls would be numbered right to left, as you look at them, with stall one against the stand’s rail, on the outside of the track. The new numbering system means that stall 1 is always nearest the inside rail. Therefore the stalls number left to right, a reversal from last year.

This may all sound rather boring and unnecessary; except the 3.20 race is run over 5 furlongs where there is quite a big draw bias. Previously stall one used to be a bad draw; today stall one is in a completely different position on the track and stall 14 (the highest draw) is now the bad draw.

I have gone to these lengths to explain the draw because my selection comes out of stall 1.

At the ripe old age of 12, Highland Warrior still looks capable of winning at his favourite track. His last 11 runs over course and distance are remarkable, they read: 11492123112.

That ninth place can be ignored as it was run on good to firm ground, something he has never been able to handle. In his last ten runs at the track when good to soft or softer, he has won 5 out 10 races and never been outside the top 4.

Winner of this race last year, Highland Warrior has also been fortunate with the draw. His style of running means he often gets left behind in the early stages, but the wide draw means he can keep out of trouble and avoid the bunching that occurs on the bend. Being drawn very wide is actually an advantage if you look at our Musselburgh draw bias analysis.

If he retains any of his old enthusiasm, and there is no reason to doubt this, he rates a cracking bet.

*This race is a Bet365 feature race: Back any single winner at 4/1 or more on a bet365 feature race and you can have a free bet to the same stake (£50 max.) on the next bet365 feature race.