Tony Calvin: Early thoughts on Musselburgh's Scottish Sprint

Although there were plenty of long-range market moves after Epsom and next week's Ascot markets are beginning to firm up, I want to go into the Royal meeting unencumbered by ante-post positions this year.

Sure, you take betting opportunities as and when they present themselves, but there is something almost cathartic - well, that's a bit strong but you know what I mean - about going into a big meeting fresh and unburdened by previous thoughts and positions.

So that is how I am going to play Royal Ascot next week; blank canvass and all that.

As for the weekend action, it is predictably low-key sandwiched between Epsom and Ascot, and we only have one race to go at as it stands, though I suspect at some point the 100k 6f sprint handicap at York will be offered on the exchange and by the Betfair Sportsbook and the other fixed-odds firms.

But it's just the Musselburgh Scottish Sprint to study at the time of writing and the market is predictably dominated by Blaine and Kimberella, the most impressive and unluckiest handicappers at Epsom respectively.

Blaine is a 9.417/2 chance on the exchange and it is easy to see why he is so prominent in the betting, though the layers there are seemingly keen to oppose him as he ranges from just 5-1 to 7-1 in the fixed-odds market.

Given that he was hugely impressive in winning a 17-runner 6f handicap by 4½ lengths on Saturday and only carries a 6lb penalty, he is clearly the pick of the weights. Especially as his weekend win came off 87, and he started last season off a mark of 104. He looked better than ever on Saturday.

We obviously don't know the draw though - not that I take as much notice about that aspect as some do, in general terms, when betting - and I suppose the Betfair layers are keen to take him on on his return to 5f, as he has never won over the minimum trip.

Kimberella would surely have won well if not starting slowly in the Epsom Dash on Saturday, being beaten a short-head, and he would be the more solid of the two to my eye, and odds of 8.07/1 are fully understandable. However, some have said that the third, Duke Of Firenze, could also have come close to winning there had he been ridden more aggressively from the gates.

Immediately after his fourth to Blaine at Epsom at the weekend, I was all set to put up Waseem Farris at a big price in this early-closer - he currently trades at 27.026/1 - but he needs 10 to come out and get a run.

Of course, if you back him and he is balloted out, then you get your money back. But he does look very unlikely to get a run, which is a shame as he shaped really well at the weekend.

I backed him at 40-1 each way on Saturday, despite the fact that 6f clearly stretches his stamina, as I thought he may get away with at Epsom.

He didn't but he momentarily looked likely winning before dropping away to finish a highly-creditable fourth - he traded at 3.185/40 in the run - and the drop back to the minimum trip is a huge plus to his chances.

He isn't as well-handicapped as some in here, but he has been slipping down the weights all the same, and I think he has a decent 5f handicap in him. If he sneaks in at the bottom of the weights, I will be reviewing his claims on Friday afternoon.

There are 45 entries at the five-day stage and quite a few will be looking to make quick turnarounds, though last year's winner Red Baron comes here fresh after missing his engagement in Saturday's Dash with a vet's certificate (what the exact reason was, who knows, but it would be nice to know).

I put up Green Door in the Dash and he ran ok, and is 2lb lower here, so he has possibilities. But I am thinking this is a race to attack nearer the time when we have a lot more information. It is currently fast ground at Musselburgh, but there is rain forecast today and later in the week too, for starters.

So powder dry until the weekend.