Saturday 30th March 2024
Author: Jordan Yates (jordan_yates_)
Queen’s Cup Day
Feature Meetings: Musselburgh & Haydock
1.50 Musselburgh: Virgin Bet Royal Mile Handicap: I’m getting things underway on Saturday with the 1.50 which is the Royal Mile Handicap at Musselburgh. I think that this can go to Individualism for the team of Charlie Johnston and Joe Fanning. The Johnston’s have won four of the last five renewals of this race and they look to have another solid contender here. He’s placed in three of his four starts and I fancy him to go one better in what doesn’t look the strongest of races here. Individualism – 7/5 (Win)
2.05 Haydock: My Pension Expert Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle: I move over to Haydock for my second pick of the day which is a handicap hurdle that’s contested over a mile and seven and a half furlongs. I like Playful Saint here for the team of Dan & Harry Skelton. He returned to the track after a year-long layoff this month when finishing a fine neck second at Stratford, and I think on the back of that he has to have a great chance here off just three pounds higher. He placed within a Graded handicap last season and still looks considerably progressive. Playful Saint – 4/1 (Win)
2.25 Musselburgh: Virgin Bet Silver Arrow Handicap: Moving back to Musselburgh now for the remainder of the preview and the 2.25 is where I turn next which is the Silver Arrow Handicap over seven furlongs. I’m taking a chance on Zip here who’s currently a 9/1 chance for Richard Fahey and Tyler Heard who takes off three pounds. He’s a course and distance winner who has form on testing ground, he’s not won for a while, however, he often runs to a decent level. If some of this don’t appreciate the going he could well capitalise. Zip – 9/1 (Each-Way)
3.00 Musselburgh: Virgin Bet Scottish Sprint Cup: My fourth selection of the afternoon comes in the Scottish Sprint Cup which is a Class 2 Handicap over five furlongs. I like the chances of Vintage Clarets here who’s another representative for Richard Fahey and this time the mount of David Nolan. He was second in the race last year and will have no issue with the testing ground having got strong form on heavy going in the past. He’s also proven he can go well fresh and looks a very solid candidate. Vintage Clarets – 5/1 (Each-Way)
3.35 Musselburgh: Virgin Bet Queen’s Cup: The feature race of the day at Musselburgh comes up at 3.35 and this is the Queen’s Cup over a mile and six furlongs. I’m with Sweet Fantasy here who represents James Owen and Aidan Keely who takes off three pounds. She comes into the race with fitness on her side and form having won two hurdle races in January and March, the most recent success coming in the form of a seventeen-length victory over a useful rival. I think she can have a big say back on the level and is another who shouldn’t have any issues with the ground. Sweet Fantasy – 13/2 (Each-Way)
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