SD's Racecourse Notes: Musselburgh

In the first of a new weekly feature, Races Now star SD offers up his key takeaways from one of his many attended race meetings around the UK.

Hopefully, the observations noted in these columns will help point readers towards the direction of a few future winners!

This first edition covers a trip north to Musselburgh on Sunday, September 14th 2025.

SD’S Racecourse Notes – Musselburgh, September 14th

14:15

All looked well in the paddock, with Komorkis a little on her toes. Farandaway was prohibitively short for this contest, did not break well and never featured. She has massive question marks regarding her attitude going forward.

Komorkis tracked Donald through and overtook him at the furlong pole, merely keeping on. Donald had every chance near the rail, his rider admitting defeat in the closing stages.

14:50

Jason Hart deserves plaudits with Parisian Schloar not handling the bend and looking wayward at various stages of the race, but still winning, albeit possibly due to greenness. It does not say much for the rest of them, with Truly Special travelling well, but the well was dry.

15:25

Cougar, subject of lumps in the ring before the race, made his intentions clear from flagfall, merely grinding out in first time blinkers. Very much having the run of the race, it is questionable whether one or both of the headgear or an uncontested lead will happen next time. Rory The Cat and, in particular, Spartan Warrior remain disappointing.

16:00

Keats House, straight out of a Doncaster race that is working out well, showed that easy ground holds no fears. In a race where it paid to race prominently, he comprehensively outpointed Drumcondra, who played up at the start. Both Russell horses were disappointing, with Gonnae No Dae That looking a handful in the paddock.

16:33

Probably the strongest race of the day. Montezuma was well backed and did not lack pace. Switched towards the outside of the track instead of taking the brave man’s route, he just failed on his first run on easy ground. Compensation surely awaits, perhaps on quicker ground, and he remains one to keep on side. I’m Next had a much more uninterrupted passage, but remains progressive.

Knicks remains difficult to win with, finishing in third and may need some respite from the handicapper. Smooth Silisie didn’t have the clearest of runs, this run on underfoot conditions which weren’t ideal and showed that he remains of interest in this grade on quicker ground.

17:08

The first two raced in that position throughout. Saxonia, progressive, once again won and has come a long way from when I saw him at Wolverhampton earlier in the year. Starliner, in third, came from further back and would be of interest on quicker ground or on a synthetic surface.

17:43

The rain came, and we exited.