Palomar, who endured a troublesome passage in the famous Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket recently, can gain compensation at Musselburgh and add to what promises to be a lucrative afternoon for Paul Hanagan on a course where he has shone this season.

The crack Malton jockey has accumulated a quite remarkable record on the East Lothian track, riding no fewer than 23 winners from 58 mounts at a strike-rate of 40 per cent and to a £1 level-stake profit of £25.84.

Hanagan can add to his phenomenal scorecard tomorrow, not least on Palomar in the featured Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Willie Park Trophy over two miles.

The eight-year-old, trained at Norton by Brian Ellison, finished fifth in the Cesarewitch, but met all sorts of trouble trying to find a clear run in the final three furlongs and would surely have been involved in the finish with a better passage.

He had previously won a valuable hurdle race at Market Rasen for Ellison, who seems to have found the key to this headstrong customer. He should take plenty of beating in this two-miler.

Hanagan has a whole host of fancied mounts throughout the afternoon and looks likely to figure strongly from start to finish.

He rides the Tim Easterby-trained Grissom in the opening sprint handicap and this speedy gelding, a good second at Pontefract last time out, is overdue a winning turn.

Blue Destination (3.15), trained at Newmarket by Charlie McBride, showed promise on his debut and can give Hanagan a good ride in the juvenile maiden, while Crimson Knot (4.25) makes plenty of appeal under the same pilot in the nursery.

Alan Berry’s filly is nothing if not consistent and she finished a neck second to Normandy Maid over this course and distance on her latest start. Previously a winner here, she is napped to win again.

Hanagan has a further two mounts with solid chances – Lesley’s Choice (5.00), trained by Linda Perratt and a winner over this course and distance earlier this month, and Hong Kong Island (5.30), who was ridden to victory by Hanagan at this track two starts ago when he was trained by Nicky Richards.

Also worth noting at Musselburgh’s final Flat meeting of the year is Fremen, who makes the long journey from David Nicholls’ North Yorkshire establishment.

It is a trip he knows all too well. Fremen is a standing dish at this course, where he has won six times. He can make it a magnificent seven in his selling race assignment and also take his career tally to an admirable 20 wins.

At Nottingham, Richard Hughes, Hanagan’s nearest pursuer in the jockeys’ championship, has chances of winners on Conjuror’s Bluff (2.00) and Colour Scheme (4.50).

Richard Fahey’s Lord Aeryn (4.15), second at Musselburgh last time out, and the in-form Dean Iarracht (5.20) are also worthy of attention.

Racing selections

Musselburgh.

1.40 Grissom, 2.10 Foreign Rhythm, 2.40 Fremen, 3.15 Blue Destination, 3.50 Palomar, 4.25 Crimson Knot (NAP), 5.00 Lesley’s Choice, 5.30 Hong Kong Island.

Nottingham.

1.30 Brand Bob, 2.00 Conjuror’s Bluff, 2.30 Academy, 3.05 Westwood, 3.40 Short Supply, 4.15 Lord Aeryn, 4.50 Colour Scheme, 5.20 Dean Iarracht.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Haydock and Kempton.

Today’s meetings: Catterick, Taunton and Yarmouth