15:25 Musselburgh

Friday 20 August 2021

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3017:0517:40

Madeleine Cup Handicap

Off time: 15:27 | Winning time: 59.71s

(7)

Machree¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Harrison Shaw| T: D Carroll| OR: 75| D

11/2

Fallen to last winning mark and capitalised when landing 6-runner handicap at Redcar (5f, good, 11/4) 15 days ago, all out. Only 2 lb higher now and she can go well again.

Form: 088741

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(6)

Never Dark²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 74| D

15/2

Kempton handicap winner (5f) last summer who hit the frame on first 3 starts in handicaps upon joining this yard. Seemingly not 100% over C&D last month and he's a likely type to bounce back.

Form: 64-2330

(5)

Primo's Comet²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: D Nolan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 74| CD

9/2

4-time C&D winner. Latest win here in June. 11/2, creditable second of 5 in handicap at this C&D (good to firm) 21 days ago, finishing well. No surprise to see him go well again in present groove.

Form: 015132

(1)

Melody King^h³^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Billy Garritty⁽³⁾| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 67| BF| D

11/4

Improved on recent efforts to win 10-runner handicap (13/2) at Hamilton (5f, good) 3 days ago, well served by the drop back to 5f. Type to go well again.

Form: 9-98041

(4)

Afandem^p¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Watson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 69| CD

16/1

Unreliable sort. C&D winner. Last of 14 in handicap (12/1) at Carlisle (5.8f, good to firm) 18 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 426360

(2)

Economic Crisis²⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 8-12| J: J P Sullivan| T: A Berry| OR: 64| CD

33/1

Four second-place finishes this year proves she still retains plenty of ability and enthusiasm, but her last 2 efforts have been below par so bit to prove at present.

Form: 252270

(3)

Denzil's Laughing^t³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: S H James| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 66| D

22/1

Successful at Catterick (5f) in April but has lost his way since, again failing to beat a rival at Catterick (5f) last month. Mark is easing all the time at least.

Form: 150776

(8)

Refuge^p,t⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: F Norton| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 59| CD

5/2

C&D winner. Good second of 8 in handicap at Catterick (5f) 4 days ago, losing out only to a well-handicapped sort for a red-hot stable. One to be interested in equipped with refitted cheekpieces.

Form: 244222

Forecasts

Refuge (5/2), Melody King (11/4), Primo's Comet (9/2), Machree (11/2), Never Dark (15/2), Afandem (16/1), Denzil's Laughing (22/1), Economic Crisis (33/1)

An open-looking sprint handicap with the vote in favour of REFUGE. He again went agonisingly close when beaten narrowly by a well-handicapped stable switcher at Catterick 4 days ago and the refitting of cheekpieces may just put an extra edge on him. Melody King looked well served by the drop to 5f when successful at Hamilton 3 days ago and, along with Machree, heads up the dangers.