16:25 Musselburgh

Thursday 21 May 2026

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2517:0017:35

Never Standing Still Handicap

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 1m 27.58s

(1)

Bellarchi¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Oliver Stammers| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 91| CD

2/1

Has proved better than ever this year, scoring over C&D and 1m at this track last month (last 4 wins here). Easy to put a line through her recent Chester effort (no room final 1f) but may resume her progress back here.

Form: 88-8119

(5)

Misunderstood²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Mark Winn| T: D O'Meara| OR: 88| D

18/1

Smart form at best in France, winning 2 of his 3 starts as a 2-y-o, including a Group 3. Lost his way during 2025 but has joined a yard (acquired for €37,000) that boasts a good record with similar recruits and is entitled to have needed his comeback run at Newmarket just under 3 weeks ago.

Form: 09096-5

(8)

Gweedore^p³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: William Pyle| T: K Scott| OR: 88| CD

17/2

Ended 2025 with a C&D win in November (fifth in total) but little encouragement to glean from both efforts this time around. Handicapper drops him 2 lb but others still look better treated though.

Form: 7781-70

(2)

Wild Nature¹⁹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: O J Orr| T: E Bethell| OR: 88| D

15/2

Left a couple of low key starts on turf for the stable well behind him back at the scene of his only previous win when landing 14-runner event at Kempton (7f) back in November. Returns from 6 months off but is well bred and has the physique to do better still.

Form: 21/8991-

(6)

Percy's Lad¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: T Eaves| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 87

8/1

Front-runner with a good Chester record but failed to come on for his reappearance back there (7.6f, good to firm) just over a fortnight ago. Handicapper drops him another chunk but it would take a leap of faith to get involved.

Form: 1004/00

(4)

Kosometsuke¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 82| BF| D

9/2

Two-time winner last season who looked as good as ever returning for new yard when resuming winning ways in a 7f handicap at Thirsk last month. Found the drop in trip against him back there just over 3 weeks ago so should fare better returned to 7f.

Form: 2614-15

(3)

Diamondonthehill¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 81| D

11/1

In good form over the winter but raced closer to the pace than ideal after a couple of months off when eighth of 10 in handicap at Haydock (7f, good) earlier this month. Drops to the lowest mark he's been for years but may prove vulnerable to younger legs.

Form: 233248

(7)

Benacre²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Rowan Scott| T: C Johnston| OR: 79| D

5/1

Generally had a good winter on the all-weather, winning a handicap at Newcastle (7f) in February and shaped as if still in good form when fifth of 11 over C&D last month, caught further back than ideal. This is tougher back up in grade, however.

Form: 216035

Non-Runners

(10)

Persuasion⁵

Weight: 9-5| Age: 9

T: T D Barron J: Non Runner

(9)

Jannas Journey¹

Weight: 8-12| Age: 5

T: J S Goldie J: Lauren Young

Forecasts

Bellarchi (2/1), Kosometsuke (9/2), Benacre (5/1), Persuasion (7/1), Wild Nature (15/2), Percy's Lad (8/1), Gweedore (17/2), Diamondonthehill (11/1), Jannas Journey (14/1), Misunderstood (18/1)

WILD NATURE took his form up a notch when doubling his tally at Kempton in November and appealing as the type to do better still at 4 yrs, Ed Bethell's charge can pick up from where he left off. Bellarchi's last 4 wins have been at this venue so she can provide most resistance with her latest effort at Chester easy to strike a line through. Kosometsuke may fare best of the rest returned to 7f.