15:00 Musselburgh

Saturday 20 April 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:4017:1517:45

Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 58.79s

(9)

Marnie James^t⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Scott McCullagh⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 106| CD

33/1

Three-times a winner last season over 5f (twice on good to firm/once AW) and turned in consistent efforts in defeat. Below form in pair of Meydan runs early in New Year and freshened up since; career-high mark to contend with.

Form: 6231-68

(7)

A Momentofmadness^h¹⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: D Tudhope| T: C Hills| OR: 104| D

7/1

Three wins last year, latest in a Class 2 Doncaster handicap (5½f, good) in September when making all. Didn't fancy soft-ground Ascot Listed race afterwards, capable fresh however and respected.

Form: 382019-

(17)

Final Venture²⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 103| D

10/1

Front-runner; knocking at the door throughout 2018, generally running his very best races at York. Capable off a break and on a fair handicap based on the best of last year's efforts.

Form: 362553-

(8)

Copper Knight^t¹⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 100| D

10/1

Thriving towards end of last season, winning at York and Nottingham (5f, good/soft) either side of pleasing runs at Catterick and Doncaster. Raised 3lb for last success, needs to be bang on it to score on return.

Form: 501441-

(6)

Captain Colby¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: P T Midgley| OR: 98| CD

14/1

Ended last season in fine fettle with a couple of wins and a narrow loss, including when upsetting stablemate Tarboosh in the Flying Scotsman Conditions Stakes over C&D (good) in October. Had wind op in winter but ran poor race here on return.

Form: 67112-6

(2)

Savalas²⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 98| D

10/1

Began last season with a hat-trick of wins over minimum trip, rising 19lb in the handicap in doing so. Well held thereafter but returns to action off a nice mark potentially and is worth noting in the betting.

Form: 125803-

(5)

Line Of Reason³

Age: 9| Weight: 8-12| J: Connor Beasley| T: P T Midgley| OR: 94| CD

9/1

Now nine-years-old but showed up well on seasonal bow with runner-up effort at Beverley (5f, good to firm) on Wednesday, runs of the same mark in this tougher contest.

Form: 32430-2

(1)

Soldier's Minute²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 93| BF| C

12/1

Lost his way towards the backend of last term but ready winner on the AW at Kempton in March and ran well under 10lb penalty next time, both over 6f. Tough mark here and might find things happening too fast.

Form: 0200-15

(11)

Royal Brave¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: R Ffrench| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 91| CD

10/1

Course regular, but not against this standard of opponent; won twice over this C&D in 2018 (in Class 4 handicaps); outran 25-1 odds on reappearance here but will find much more realistic winning opportunities as the turf season progresses.

Form: 15180-4

(14)

Harome²⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 91| D

16/1

Decent strike rate on turf and scored last summer at Haydock and York over this trip, though form tailed off from this sort of rating towards backend. Tends to need a run, ensuring others are favoured now.

Form: 131060-

(4)

Gabrial The Saint¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 90

25/1

Scored back-to-back successes last May but has struggled in tougher company off revised marks since, including this month's reappearance at Windsor. Big ask.

Form: 18970-9

(10)

Mokaatil⁵^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 85| D

10/1

Returned to form with Pontefract win (5f, good) earlier in the week, getting up close home. 5lb penalty in tough race makes things a lot tougher, though claimer does have promising strike rate at this course.

Form: 845-651

(3)

Eeh Bah Gum²¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 89| D

25/1

Rapidly progressive on turf last year, winning five times in seven runs, all over 5f. Closely matched with some of these on best form. Struggled on AW in final outing in September off this mark (5L behind Marnie James) so bit more called for after.

Form: 112517-

(15)

Saaheq¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: Hollie Doyle| T: M Appleby| OR: 85| D

11/2

Dual winner on turf last season over 5f after joining this trainer, went close on AW at Southwell recently (short-head second) off this mark and with fitness assured needs respecting.

Form: 57-5142

(12)

Primo's Comet³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-0| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 81| CD

10/1

1-10 on turf previously, taking a Class 5 handicap over C&D in September. 3lb higher than for February's AW win at Newcastle and career-best will be needed to prevail in this field.

Form: 1-53414

(16)

Classic Pursuit^b³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-0| J: A Mullen| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 80| D

80/1

Experienced campaigner, though far form reliable. Won three times in Class 5 company last summer at Pontefract and Nottingham. Not fired in pair of AW starts for new trainer and a surprise should he defy this mark to win.

Form: 575988

Non-Runners

(13)

Ornate²

Weight: 9-3| Age: 6

T: D C Griffiths J: Phil Dennis

Forecasts

Saaheq (11/2), A Momentofmadness (7/1), Line Of Reason (9/1), Final Venture (10/1), Mokaatil (10/1), Copper Knight (10/1), Primo's Comet (10/1), Royal Brave (10/1), Savalas (10/1), Soldier's Minute (12/1), Ornate (12/1), Captain Colby (14/1), Harome (16/1), Gabrial The Saint (25/1), Eeh Bah Gum (25/1), Marnie James (33/1), Classic Pursuit (80/1)

Paul Midgley has a decent hand to play here with 2017 winner Line Of Reason joined by FINAL VENTURE and Captain Colby. The first-named is respected but the selection tends to run well off a break and isn't badly treated on the best of last year's efforts. He should take to this track and is fancied to run well. Also returned from a layoff is A Momentofmadness, consistent last year and well worth forgiving a flop on soft going at Ascot when last spotted. Savalas and the race-fit Saaheq go on the shortlist for this tough test, with Copper Knight and Marnie James considered for place money.