Bamford bringing the muscle to Westport

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Muscle Bank will be looking to avenge her head defeat to Prince Teka when she backs up on the second day of Westport’s Christmas meeting on Wednesday.

The daughter of Muscle Hill will get a 10m advantage on the Gerard McCrea-trained gelding in the NBS 160 Anniversary Handicap Trot (2600m) as a result and trainer Tom Bamford is confident of a bold showing from the five-year-old.

“She just got on one rein, but I was very proud of her, she kept on giving right to the line and we only just got beaten,” Bamford said.

“She has come through the run super. She ate up well last (Monday) night and seems bright, so we will press on to day two.”

It was the second consecutive placing for Muscle Bank, who has appreciated the step up in distance and grass surface on the West Coast.

“She is more of a staying type, and grass tracks are right up her alley,” Bamford said.

“As long as she does back-up and it didn’t take too much out of her, because she will have to be driven quite hard once again, we are going into Wednesday with plenty of confidence.”

Depending on how she pulls up after Wednesday, Bamford may send his mare out for a short freshen-up before heading north to tackle some more grass track targets.

“She has been up for a wee while, so I might give her a wee freshen-up and maybe look to Blenheim on the grass,” he said.

Bamford will also take the reins behind the Gavin Smith-trained Baltimore Jill in the Pat Scanlon/Martins Mitre 10/Fuller Tools Mobile Pace (2600m).

“She went as good as she can on the first day,” Bamford said.

“We got a nice trip, but she has only got a short sprint on her, so I probably went a bit too early.

“We have got the same draw (7) again on Wednesday, but she blew quite hard after the run, so hopefully she will be better for it.”