PROVIDED Tommy Smith (3.25) gets his own way up front, Musselburgh's richest race of the year, the £50,000 Scottish Sprint Cup, is there for the taking.

John Wainwright's runner represents a classic case of light the blue touch paper and watch the fireworks begin, such is his explosive speed from the gate. And since Musselburgh is one of the fastest five-furlong tracks in the country, there'll be no catching him if, as usual, he flies straight into an early lead.

Last season at York Tommy Smith demonstrated just what an able sprinter he is by blitzing a decent field despite drifting from one side of the famous Knavesmire course to the other.

Today he should have no such problems as emerging from stall four he has the near-side rail to run against. It was a tactic which so nearly worked at Beverley last time out, when Tommy Smith stuck like glue to fence, establishing a clear advantage over his rivals until nailed right on the lollipop by Grey Cossack.

The exact value of the form was not immediately clear, but that all changed when Grey Cossack went in again at Doncaster, beating a whole bunch of useful speedsters in the process.

There are plenty dangers in the line-up, including Ptarmigan Ridge, beaten only a whisker into third spot at odds of 50-1 in the same race 12 months ago.

Ptarmigan Ridge has not been seen out for 72 days, however he goes well when fresh and his Ayr-based trainer Linda Perratt invariably seems to do best when her horses are performing on home soil.

* Refuse To Bend's Vodafone Derby price was on the slide yesterday when negative vibes emerged after the Dermot Weld-trained colt galloped in the morning.

Ladbrokes reacted by pushing Refuse To Bend's odds out to 7-2 from 11-4, with Brian Boru their new 3-1 favourite from 4-1. Coral go 3-1 the pair, while William Hill have promoted Brian Boru to 11-4 from 7-2, with Refuse To Bend out to 100-30.

Irish bookmakers Paddy Power have Brian Boru on 3-1 with Refuse To Bend at 100-30.

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