15:25 Musselburgh

Saturday 3 June 2017

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:5517:30

Edinburgh Gin's Edinburgh Cup Handicap

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 3m 2.57s

(10)

Time To Study¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 89

15/8

Ran a very eye-catching race last time out after winning two of his three starts as a juvenile and looked last time out as though this increased trip would be good for him. Had to come from way off the pace last time in a race where it paid to be on the pace and wouldn't want to get too far back here. Holds entries in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes and Queens Vase.

Form: 121-3

(3)

Mister Manduro²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 88

7/2

The second of the runners from this stable who run three in this. Ran a very sound second on his reappearance this year ay Bath but back in trip at Newmarket he ran poorly (finished last) and has something to prove here although he wouldn't be the first runner from this yard to bounce back quickly.

Form: 321-29

(2)

Euro Nightmare²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: G Lee| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 82| C

13/2

The first of three runners from this stable (the second yard to have a trio of runners in this) and probably the most fancied of the trio who showed much improved form to win here last time over 1m1f. She now steps up further in trip off a 6lb higher mark and this will prove to be a tougher test although she did look to need a test like this based on her last run.

Form: 2126-1

(6)

Alabaster^p1³²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 81| D

4/1

Looks just the sort that the stable do well with and he's already won a couple of race looking much better over further having won a maiden over 1m3f at a handicap (on debut) over 1m6f both on the AW. He's yet to run on turf and the cheekpieces go on for the first time (has carried head awkwardly) but he looked to win with a bit in hand last time and only gets 6lb rise here. Holds an entry in the Queens Vase and a fascinating contender.

Form: 5411

(9)

The Blues Master²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: R Ffrench| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 76

40/1

Very much the outsider of the three that this yard run here having disappointed last time out at Chester he doesn't look that well treated here as he bids to bounce back.

Form: 342-127

(7)

Taxmeifyoucan^p¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: P Hanagan| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 74

18/1

Like a few from this yard he was an emphatic winner on his handicap debut on the Fibresand at Southwell beating a small field with consummate ease. Only beat one home at York last time over 1m4f but was badly hampered and failed to recover but doing enough to think that he's probably still improving and take another rise in grade here.

Form: 275-10

(8)

Cray^p1¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Josephine Gordon| T: J D Bethell| OR: 74| D

18/1

Cheekpieces go on for the first time for a yard that are in decent form (last seven runners have gone 2331123) and this one turned in an improved performance on handicap debut at Wetherby over 1m6f. Looks as though he still has some improvement in him raised just 4lb for that win and makes some appeal here.

Form: 58-3431

(4)

Albert's Back²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Nathan Evans⁽³⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 73

25/1

The only handicap debutante in the field he'll need to make a significant step forward on what he's done so far as he's been well below his debut form on his last two starts.

Form: 663

(5)

Look My Way³²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: J Quinn| T: A M Balding| OR: 73

11/1

A rare runner at this track for this yard (1/11 overall) but this one has improved with each start this year all on a variety of AW surfaces. Switches to turf now and can be slow away but is much better off with Albaster who beat him last time at Chelmsford and will be a player in this if he doesn't miss the kick and get in a poor track position.

Form: 960-312

Non-Runners

(1)

Somnambulist²⁷

Weight: 8-6| Age: 3

T: K Dalgleish J: Connor Beasley

Forecasts

Time To Study (15/8), Mister Manduro (7/2), Alabaster (4/1), Euro Nightmare (13/2), Somnambulist (10/1), Look My Way (11/1), Cray (18/1), Taxmeifyoucan (18/1), Albert's Back (25/1), The Blues Master (40/1)

No surprise that this is a competitive affair with a fair few improvers on show with some decent entries. Both The Queens Vase entered Alabaster and TimeTo Study are of interest but there must be a slight question mark about the track suiting the former and the latter doesn’t look the most straightforward of horses. Look My Way needs to start a bit better as getting too far back here isn’t an option and there are some alternatives to the front end of the market with CRAY and Taxmeifyoucan being two at bigger prices who appeal. The former ran a nice race on handicap debut and for a yard going well isn’t harshly treated for that win and the latter ran a far better race than it appeared at York last time and both could outrun their odds.