15:15 Musselburgh

Tuesday 2 April 2019

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

Borderlescott Sprint Trophy Conditions Stakes

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 58.95s

(6)

El Astronaute¹⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 106| D

7/4

The absolute model of consistency in 2018, with a couple of valuable York handicap wins (5f-5½f) supplemented with a 5½f soft ground Listed success at Maisons-Laffitte; ought to be firmly on the premises based on official BHA ratings.

Form: 424121-

(5)

Captain Colby¹⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Robinson| T: P T Midgley| OR: 99| BF| CDWS

7/1

Ended last season in fine fettle with a couple of wins, including when upsetting stablemate Tarboosh in the Flying Scotsman Conditions Stakes over C&D (good) in October; this race is a reasonable starting point for the new season post wind-surgery.

Form: 667112-

(1)

Longroom^t1¹⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Phil Dennis| T: N Wilson| OR: 82| CD

100/1

Three-time C&D winner (Class 4-6); faces a very stiff task at these weights on seasonal return; wears a first-time tongue-tie; unconsidered.

Form: 461680-

(4)

Merhoob¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: P Hanagan| T: J Ryan| OR: 103| CD

5/1

Versatile, hardy and reliable - sharpest on the AW around Lingfield Park; sole turf win came over C&D in a Class 4 handicap in June 2017; runner-up on each of his last two AW starts (5f-6f); probable player.

Form: 262122

(8)

Royal Brave¹⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: D Allan| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 88| CD

25/1

Musselburgh regular, but not against this standard of opponent; won twice over this C&D in 2018 (in Class 4 handicaps); will find much more realistic winning opportunities as the turf season progresses.

Form: 215180-

(7)

Tanasoq¹⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: G Lee| T: P T Midgley| OR: 94| D

12/1

Rates as one of the weaker links of the Paul Midgley-trained quartet despite winning four on the bounce in the early weeks and months of the 2018 turf season (all over 5f on quick ground); has shot up the weights as a result.

Form: 720856-

(3)

Tarboosh¹⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: K Stott| T: P T Midgley| OR: 108| D

5/2

Four-time winner in 2017 & 2018, charting an upward trajectory from July 2018 onwards (1,1,1,2,2,1); couldn't reel in stablemate Captain Colby over C&D in October but bounced back with a valuable Class 2 handicap win at Doncaster 12-days later.

Form: 111221-

(2)

Merry Banter¹⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: P Mulrennan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 85| D

28/1

6-26 on turf, including a trio of good ground 5f wins in 2018 (Class 4-5 contests at Catterick, Ayr and Redcar); plenty to find on such disadvantageous terms; pads out the field for Paul Midgley who saddles three other runners.

Form: 331471-

Forecasts

El Astronaute (7/4), Tarboosh (5/2), Merhoob (5/1), Captain Colby (7/1), Tanasoq (12/1), Royal Brave (25/1), Merry Banter (28/1), Longroom (100/1)

The official ratings imply that the trio to concentrate upon are TARBOOSH (108), El Astronaute (106) and Merhoob (103), but as we've witnessed from past experience, including at this track in the 2018 Flying Scotsman Conditions Stakes that doesn't always necessarily prove to be the case. Paul Midgley is mob-handed with no fewer than four declared runners (50% of the field), including the progressive Captain Colby who made all when mastering the selection (and stablemate) over C&D in October. However, Tarboosh bounced back swiftly when winning a competitive Class 2 handicap at Doncaster 12-days later, and is strongly fancied to pick up where he left off in 2018.