15:35 Musselburgh

Saturday 20 April 2019

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

Queen's Cup Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 3m 0.01s

(2)

Sir Chauvelin²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: D Tudhope| T: J S Goldie| OR: 106| C| D

20/1

Won the valuable Summer Handicap at Goodwood (1m6f) last season before coming up a little short at pattern level. Shaped as if needing the run on reappearance at Doncaster and may do better here.

Form: 07166-6

(12)

Hochfeld¹⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁵⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 103| D

9/1

Tends to make the running and that won't be easy around here in this field, goes well fresh and won first two starts last season, albeit less grades. Goes on any ground and wouldn't be safe to cross off the list.

Form: 424220-

(14)

Austrian School¹⁹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 102| D

4/1

Back-to-back wins to launch last season included Chester handicap (1m4½f, good) off a mark of 85. Hugely consistent thereafter without getting head in front again. Respected record fresh and perhaps pick of trainer's four here.

Form: 232223-

(8)

My Reward²³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 100

50/1

Made all when landing a small field 1m4f handicap at Pontefract in June last year (good to firm), but fairly modest afterwards in better races (including well behind some of these) and would be a surprise winner on return to action.

Form: 010500-

(5)

Making Miracles¹⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: A Mullen| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 98| D

8/1

Beat stablemate Austrian School in winning over 1m6f at Haydock (good to firm) in July last year. Closely matched on that evidence, though re-opposing rival might be best-suited after a layoff by this.

Form: 713003-

(4)

Kelly's Dino^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: B A Curtis| T: K R Burke| OR: 96

11/2

Winner of 3-8 turf starts so far, this looks most demanding assignment however and ran poorly in Kempton AW handicap three weeks ago.

Form: 8213-28

(10)

Lucky Deal¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 96| BF| D

11/1

Final piece of the Mark Johnston-jigsaw in this race, the Mastercraftsman has improved over staying trips on the AW this spring and now drops back from 2m. Must step up on previous turf form.

Form: 114-214

(6)

Ulster³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 93| BF

4/1

Dual AW winner already this year, the lightly-raced German-bred has scope for better now tackling a turf handicap, but he's up 2lb for a narrow defeat on the AW at Kempton over 2m and tackles rivals with plenty know-how. Not to be discounted.

Form: 4/1122

(3)

Mirsaale^p²⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 8-10| J: J P Sullivan| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 92| D

33/1

Nine-year-old dual purpose performer, hasn't had his head in front since landing a Ripon handicap (2m, good to soft) a year ago from 4lb lower mark. Opposable on balance of probability now back from layoff.

Form: 0/61300-

(1)

Pipes Of Peace^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: T Eaves| T: S Durack| OR: 92

15/2

1-15 record for this ex-Ballydoyle inmate, scoring over 1m3f on Kempton's AW in November. Needs a career-best from this mark returned to turf.

Form: 3143-42

(9)

Tor¹⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 90| CD

25/1

Fair gelding, tends to do his winning from the front end and that won't be easy in this field. Back from a break and others have more in their favour.

Form: 51346-4

(13)

Artarmon^v¹⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: P Hanagan| T: M L W Bell| OR: 90| CD

16/1

So You Think gelding, made all to win over C&D in September, the third score of a productive 2018 campaign. Struggled at Newmarket next time and uncertain to get this his own way up top on return.

Form: 113119-

(7)

Eye of The Storm¹⁸⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 8-5| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 87

25/1

Losing run goes all the way back to 2015 but gave the impression he was well-handicapped at times last year. This trip looks right and went close on seasonal/stable bow from this mark last season. Watch betting.

Form: 306050-

(11)

Fire Jet¹⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: R Ffrench| T: J Mackie| OR: 87| D

28/1

Tough mare, ran some good races last year without reward, easing down the ratings and should get head in front this term, though possibly going to need this run and will find more appealing opportunities.

Form: 736329-

Forecasts

Austrian School (4/1), Ulster (4/1), Kelly's Dino (11/2), Pipes Of Peace (15/2), Making Miracles (8/1), Hochfeld (9/1), Lucky Deal (11/1), Artarmon (16/1), Sir Chauvelin (20/1), Eye of The Storm (25/1), Tor (25/1), Fire Jet (28/1), Mirsaale (33/1), My Reward (50/1)

Mark Johnston's 27% strike rate here over the previous 12 months ensures that his quartet of runners are much-respected, with the vote held by AUSTRIAN SCHOOL. It's closing in on a year since he won at Chester but he was very consistent last summer and has a positive record fresh, earning him the nod over stablemate Making Miracles, with whom he can reverse Haydock form from last term. Lucky Deal is also on the shortlist but perhaps the big danger may be lightly-raced Ulster. He's twice been agonisingly denied on the AW recently and, race-fit on his side, may improve again now. Sir Chauvelin should be sharper for his Doncaster run and has place claims.