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15:45 Musselburgh
Tricky little contest to start the Sunday Series with a 2yo maiden over the 7 furlongs, in which you will need a horse that will have a reasonable amount of stamina. That leads me to the War Command colt B Associates with a stout enough pedigree and also being for the red-hot duo of Goldie and Mulrennan. Jim has had three trebles lately but isn’t normally known for many 2yo winners with only two wins in the last 5 years and neither on turf, but I do have a suspicion that this colt may improve that record. Another who should be suited by the 7 furlongs is Holloway Boy for the also very respected Karl Burke who has a fantastic time this year with his 2yo’s.
B ASSOCIATES (WIN) written by Michael Taylor 16:16 Musselburgh
The second of seven live races sees this ultra competitive sprint handicap. If I was going of name alone then surely I should be siding with my namesake Rory. Jim Goldie's runner claimed victory at Hamilton last time out and shouldn't be far away once again but this looks a much more competitive affair and off his new handicap mark is likely to find a few too good.
Fellow Jim Goldie trained Primo's Comet loves it here at Musselburgh and looks massively over priced at double figure odds. He's back to his last winning mark and it'd be foolish to discount him. For punters looking for one at a big price who has a decent chance I'd suggest this seven year old.
Irish raider and market leader Only Spoofing demands a tonne of respect after winning just two starts back. A solid 3rd over course and distance in a much better race here yesterday. If that race hasn't taken much out of him I'd be shocked if he didn't finish in the top three once again. It's hard not to side with him but I'm narrowly going to look for an alternative. Course and distance winners who hail from the same yard of Keith Dalgliesh cannot be discredited all too readily as both The Thin Blue Line and Fashion Advice hold strong claims. The latter produced an encouraging performance to finish 2nd last time out but his weight worries me somewhat. The same goes for the younger of the two who's now 4lbs above his last winning mark. The handicapper may have crippled both of their chances but it'd be no shock if either finished in the money.
The one that gets the nod doesn't tick some of the boxes her rivals do having never stepped foot on the racecourse here at Musselburgh. She's also not even finished in the top half of her last five races. So why may you ask am I siding with Ballintoy Harbour? She hails from a yard who are bang in-form with trainer Paul Midgley currently operating at a 20% win rate. The filly will come on markedly for her seasonal reappearance and should strip much fitter. If she can produce anything like her best three year old form then I'm happy to take a punt on her to go well.
BALLINTOY HARBOUR (E/W)
written by Rory Paddock 16:45 Musselburgh
Shanko started his career in flying form, winning two of his first three races. He struggled when making the switch to the Turf but looked a tad more sharper when placing third at Windsor. He warrants intrigue, even more so from a reasonable draw, but he doesn’t have a great record on this ground and might find it hard at this mark.
Le Beau Garcon won two of his three races over five furlongs last year and has been handed a nice draw for today’s contest. He’s rather unexposed and connections are in good form. He’s open to progress in handicaps this season. The big worry for today is that he is coming off an eight month layoff.
Sacred Jewel doesn’t have the best draw but she is weighted at a very appealing level. Connections are in fine form and the fact that she used to be owned by Godolphin suggests she will go further than her current mark. Additionally, she is well bred and won’t have a problem with the distance or ground. She has a very good chance to improve on her Leicester victory.
SACRED JEWEL (WIN) written by Kieran McHugh 17:15 Musselburgh
Evaluation and Geremia were first and fourth respectively at York over two miles last time, and they meet again here.
Geremia has a small swing in the weights, and there shouldn’t be much between them this time.
Despite these two horses looking progressive staying handicappers, the both took the full length of the York straight to get going, and this maybe a sharper test.
The horse that looks set to take advantage is Baileys Derby. He’s a consistent type, and could be getting stronger as he gets older. He has been running prominently over shorter distances to date, but if he adopts that front running role here, he could be hard to catch, especially as the step up in trip looks sure to suit.
BAILEYS DERBYDAY (WIN) written by Matt Polley 17:45 Musselburgh
Top-weight Happy Craf comes here seeking a hat-trick following victories in Bahrain including a local Grade 2 when last seen. She’s been allocated a mark of 104 which makes her top-rated in the field and is a fascinating contender on her British debut. The lightly-raced Pearl Glory tops the market and understandably so given her two runner-up finishes in Group 3 company. She’s a filly very much on the improve and will be difficult to beat.
Karl Burke’s string are in fine fettle (13% strike rate) and he’s responsible for Snooze N You Lose who finished runner-up in a decent handicap in York last month. That being said, she disappointed in listed company previously and only has a maiden win to her name. Irish-raider Let’s is of obvious interest for classic winning trainer Ken Condon. The dual winning daughter of Shalaa hasn’t been firing on all cylinders of late but has been keeping good company in Group 3 contests. She’ll appreciate the drop in Grade but will need to bring her “A Game” to feature.
PEARL GLORY (WIN) written by Peter Keogh 18:15 Musselburgh Most of these arrive with some sort of chance though perhaps none more so than current market leader, Tamaska. Already twice a winner this term and a fine second at York last time, David O'Meara's four year old looks almost cerain to go well but he is now twelve pounds above the mark he started off at the beginning of this campaign.
Danzan is on a very long losing run now and is hard to suggest for win purposes as a result. His effort behind Tamaska at York last time entitles him to serious respect however and he is weighted to reverse that form if it is taken literally. Bringitonboris is another who looks well in at the weights and Ryan Sexton takes off an extra five pounds, he should run his race but his record of 1-17 on the turf is rather off-putting.
Business represents Gordon Elliott and he has won three times at seven furlongs, however, despite being afforded respect, none of his wins nor better performances have come on turf and he is impossible to suggest with any degree of confidence.
Mister Bluebird and Tommy G aren't entirely convincing at this trip but both know what it takes to win and the pair are respected as such.
Muntadab won this race last season off a two pounds lower mark, he went on to record further victories at Doncaster, Catterick and Chester thereafter but has shown very little in three attempts this time around. Quite what he will produce today is anyones guess but he is clearly well handicapped on his best from last season and at the prices, he is suggested to return to form.
MUNTADAB (E/W) written by Chris Connolly 18:45 Musselburgh
Jim Goldie saddles three runners in the closer here at Musselburgh, all with a very good chance of landing the prize, though they all race off career high marks. Graces Quest is a dual course and distance winner but needs her best to be competitive here. Grand Canal is a strong stayer who sports first time cheek pieces here to try to extract a little more improvement but Wickywickywheels produced her best performance to date last time out at Hamilton and this unexposed type could easily have more to offer in a race like this and he’s my pick of the three Goldie runners.
Colinton has been in fine form this year landing four races in as many months though he may find life tough in this contest off top weight against many rivals who are open to more improvement.
Sulochana was a tad disappointing last time out when strongly fancied down at Lingfield but she is a strong staying type who has the form to get involved if putting her best foot forward
That being said, I’m taking Wickywickywheels in the last here to follow up that decent form last time out stepping up in trip again.
WICKYWICKYWHEELS (WIN)
written by Tom Bates