Alexander hits Musselburgh high

Lucy Alexander’s rise to stardom continued as she bagged her 23rd winner of the season at Musselburgh.

Four of those victories have now been at the same course aboard Bruce Mactaggart’s Red Tanber (3-1), who took the TurfTV Novices’ Handicap Chase by a cool four and a quarter lengths – and could even be bound for the Cheltenham Festival.

“Graham Lee actually did the schooling on the horse but he had to ride something else against my horse first time in a chase and we used Lucy instead,” said Mactaggart.

“She has done nothing wrong on him so she kept the ride.

“I’m from Hawick, which is in rugby country – if you speak to anyone from Hawick, they will tell you if you want to get to the top, you have to be focussed and professional, and that’s what Lucy is.”

Of Red Tanber, who is entered in the Jewson Novices’ Chase, Mactaggart continued: “He has only been running in 0-110 handicaps, so I’ve no idea how he would get on against horses rated in the 130s, so we’ll have to see.

“He might well go to Cheltenham as more of a social runner and I’d like to go for the Future Champions Novices’ Chase at Ayr later in the season.”