16:00 Musselburgh

Friday 20 August 2021

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

Stobo Castle Ladies Day Gold Cup Handicap

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 1m 28.24s

(1)

Muntadab¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: Harrison Shaw| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 87| CD

12/1

C&D winner. 3 wins from 10 runs this year. Latest win at Catterick in July. Creditable sixth of 13 in handicap at Thirsk (7f, good, 11/1) 19 days ago. The handicapper probably has his measure for now.

Form: 415116

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(3)

Lion Tower¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 86| BF| CD

2/1

C&D winner. 3 wins from 6 runs this year. Latest win here in July. 9/2, good second of 12 in handicap at Thirsk (8f, good) 19 days ago. High on the shortlist.

Form: 115312

(8)

Dutch Decoy²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 85| D

11/1

Bit below form ninth of 17 in handicap (12/1) at Goodwood (7f, good to soft) 23 days ago, slowly away. One suspects that he's still a shade too high in the weights. Yard also fields Thunder of Niagra.

Form: 124449

(7)

Thunder Of Niagara¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Jane Elliott| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 89| CD

28/1

C&D winner. Latest win here in June. 12/1, fifth of 6 in handicap at Redcar (7f, good) 15 days ago. Needs to bounce back in a major way if he's to play a leading role.

Form: 4-37105

(4)

Danzan^b⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 84

10/3

Twenty-nine runs since last win in 2018. Good third of 16 in handicap at Ripon (6f, good to firm, 15/2) 6 days ago. Big player here off the same mark.

Form: 784423

(9)

Gometra Ginty^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Billy Garritty⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 80| CD

8/1

Four-time course winner. Seven wins from 26 Flat runs. 5/1, career best when winning 8-runner C&D handicap(good) 14 days ago, kept up to work. 5 lb rise fair, but this demands another personal best.

Form: 113621

(2)

Be Proud²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: D Nolan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 79

8/1

Latest win at Ayr in June. 12/1, creditable fifth of 25 in handicap at Goodwood (6f, heavy) 20 days ago. Now 2 lb lower and he's a live each-way contender.

Form: 521455

(6)

Zumurud^b⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Jason Watson| T: M Walford| OR: 76| D

8/1

Blinkered for 1st time, creditable second of 10 in handicap (9/2) at Beverley (7.4f, good to firm) 9 days ago, running on. Clearly in good heart and, still on a fair mark, and he's one to consider.

Form: 363322

(5)

Bulls Aye¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 77| CD

14/1

C&D winner. 9/2, sixth of 7 in handicap at Ayr (8f, good to soft) 11 days ago, slowly away. Improvement needed if this 3-y-o is to make a meaningful impact.

Form: 461-346

Forecasts

Lion Tower (2/1), Danzan (10/3), Be Proud (8/1), Gometra Ginty (8/1), Zumurud (8/1), Dutch Decoy (11/1), Muntadab (12/1), Bulls Aye (14/1), Thunder Of Niagara (28/1)

LION TOWER was gelded last winter and has subsequently raised his game, winning 3 of his 6 starts this year. He proved 1¼ lengths too strong for Danzan over C&D on his penultimate start and is taken to repeat the dose, despite meeting that rival on 5 lb worse terms. Danzan's losing run continues to mount, but he put in another good shift at Ripon on Saturday and is next best ahead of Zumurud.