15:00 Musselburgh

Saturday 30 March 2024

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:50

Virgin Bet Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap

(1)

Vintage Clarets¹⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: D Nolan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 97| D

Chased home Silky Wilkie in this on 2023 reappearance and went on to enjoy a very successful campaign, scoring 4 times over 5f. Ground conditions fine and should give a good account if fully primed after 5 months off.

Form: 065113-

(7)

Silky Wilkie²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Sam Feilden⁽⁷⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 97| CD

Smart performance when routing his field in this race last year, with the reopposing Vintage Clarets 4¾ lengths back in second. Has rarely reproduced that level since, including in 3 AW outings this year, but he is starting to look well treated if a return to turf sparks a revival.

Form: 235-749

(5)

Fine Wine^b¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon| OR: 88| D

Eleven runs since last win in 2022 but he did show useful form when placed in competitive 5f sprints at York and Newcastle last summer. This winter's AW efforts have been well short of his best, though.

Form: 8405-76

(3)

Looking For Lynda^p¹⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: S H James| T: K R Burke| OR: 87| CD

Better than ever when winning in a big field at York last September. Ended last season with a disappointing run back at York but he's on a competitive mark if ready to roll after 169 days off.

Form: 348127-

(4)

Glorious Angel⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Brandon Wilkie⁽⁵⁾| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 84| D

Useful filly who ran as well as could have been expected in listed company at Doncaster last weekend. More realistic chance back in a handicap from a mark which hasn't been this low for a while.

Form: 2277-56

(2)

Zarzyni^p²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: J Fanning| T: T D Barron| OR: 82| CD

C&D winner. Eighteen runs since last win in 2022. Good second of 12 in handicap at Newcastle (5f, 4/1) 27 days ago. Respected.

Form: 4-30442

(8)

Be Proud^p¹³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 81| D

Three wins from 13 runs last year, the latest win coming in the mud at Ayr in October. Ended 2023 on a low note, though, and got to be chance he'll need this after a break.

Form: 600190-

(6)

Princess Karine¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Andrew Breslin⁽³⁾| T: B Smart| OR: 77| CD

C&D winner in September. 28/1, creditable fourth of 9 in handicap at Newcastle (5f) on reappearance 17 days ago, tiring only late on. This front-runner could strip fitter now. High on the shortlist.

Form: 62140-4

Forecasts

Silky Wilkie (11/4), Vintage Clarets (4/1), Zarzyni (4/1), Fine Wine (7/1), Looking For Lynda (8/1), Glorious Angel (8/1), Princess Karine (10/1), Be Proud (16/1)

It might be worth chancing SILKY WILKIE to bounce back to form with a bang having dropped to 2 lb lower than when bolting up in this race 12 months ago. Princess Karine shaped quite well on her recent Newcastle reappearance and is second choice ahead of Zarzyni and Vintage Clarets, who chased home the selection last year.