15:10 Musselburgh

Friday 6 August 2021

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:25

Racing TV Portobello Cup Handicap

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 3m 4.54s

(6)

Dark Jedi²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 95

7/2

Hit the target twice in 2020 and resumed winning ways at Ripon (1½m) last month, producing a career-best in the process. 3 lb rise fair enough and no concerns stamina-wise, so he's high on the list.

Form: 222-501

(8)

Bodyline^p³²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 92| D

9/2

Useful form in handicaps last season, ending campaign with a win at Yarmouth over this trip. However, 5 lb higher mark to overcome here and, moreover, the run may be needed following 10 months off.

Form: 2/26201-

(1)

Raymond¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Billy Garritty⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 88| C

12/1

Notched third success of 2021 when narrowly prevailing at York (2m) in May. Best not to read too much into his latest effort in an unconventional race at Ascot, but others preferred all the same.

Form: 412147

(7)

Glasses Up¹²^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Jason Hart| T: R M Smith| OR: 81| CD

5/2

Right back to form when edging out Wise Eagle over this C&D 12 days ago. Should give another good account, but the 5 lb penalty he incurred for that success may be enough to anchor him.

Form: 290751

(2)

Red Force One²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: J P Sullivan| T: P A Kirby| OR: 84

33/1

Lightly-raced for current yard and cosily outpointed Raymond in a 4-runner Ayr handicap (13f) in April. Form has dipped badly since, though, and he's passed over here.

Form: 6-30160

(5)

Watersmeet¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 8-10| J: B A Curtis| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 84| D

12/1

Grand servant to connections who ran well on the back of a lengthy absence at Wolverhampton (16.5f) in February. However, not in same form since and looks vulnerable once more.

Form: P5/4006

(4)

Wise Eagle^p1¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: P Hanagan| T: A Nicol| OR: 83| CD

3/1

Has been a revelation since joining this stable, bagging fifth win over C&D in June. Has followed that with two near-misses, just touched off by Glasses Up back here last time. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 110122

Non-Runners

(3)

Euro Implosion⁶

Weight: 8-2| Age: 5

T: K Dalgleish J: Joanna Mason

Forecasts

Glasses Up (5/2), Wise Eagle (3/1), Dark Jedi (7/2), Bodyline (9/2), Euro Implosion (5/1), Raymond (12/1), Watersmeet (12/1), Red Force One (33/1)

WISE EAGLE has sprouted wings since joining this yard and went down all guns blazing when beaten a whisker by Glasses Up over C&D recently (pair nicely clear of the re-opposing Euro Implosion). The 4-y-o has a good chance of exacting revenge on these revised terms and he gets the nod. Glasses Up should again have a part to play, but Dark Jedi is feared most on the back of his Ripon success.