Sunday 19th April 2025
1.50 Musselburgh: Livescore Bet Best Odds Daily Royal Mile Handicap: My first selection this Saturday comes within the 1.50 at Musselburgh and this is the Royal Mile Handicap, which is a Class 3 event that’s contested over a mile. I like Zowal here for John & Sean Quinn, who’s the mount of Jason Hart. He makes his handicap debut here following a comfortable maiden success on his stable debut over course and distance a couple of weeks ago. He’ll have race fitness on his side following that effort, and he could be a useful sort for connections. If he’s to progress again, he could be a head of this opening mark. Zowal – 6/1 (Each-Way)
2.05 Haydock: JCB Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle: I’ve got one selection from Haydock on the day, and this comes within the 2.05, which is a Class 2 handicap hurdle over a mile and seven and a half furlongs. I’m taking a chance on Got Grey here for the team of Dan and Harry Skelton, who will be desperate for winners to try and repel Willie Mullins in their Trainers Championship battle. Their six-year-old here hasn’t been seen to best effect for the majority of this campaign; however, as a result, he has been continuously dropping down the weights. He’s now three pounds lower than when finishing second at Market Rasen back in September, in what was his last respectable effort. This yard knows how to campaign one for a handicap pot, and this could be his day. Got Grey – 15/2 (Each-Way)
2.25 Musselburgh: Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Silver Arrow Handicap: It’s back over to Musselburgh for my third selection of the day and the 2.25, which is the Silver Arrow Handicap over seven furlongs. I like Benacre here for Charlie Johnston and Joe Fanning. He’s not won for a while now, however, he also posted his best effort for a while last time out, which came over course and distance last week when finishing a neck second of twelve. He’ll contest this particular contest off just a pound higher mark, and he’s got every chance of running well if he’s on a going day again, as his best form does seem to be over this distance. Benacre – 15/2 (Each-Way)
3.00 Musselburgh: Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap: My penultimate pick this Saturday comes within the 3.00 at Musselburgh and this is the Scottish Sprint Cup, which is a Class 2 handicap over five furlongs. I’m going with the top-weight here in Cover Up for Simon & Ed Crisford, who’s the mount of Oisin Murphy. He’ll come into the race with fitness on his side, having raced in Dubai over the winter, with his latest effort coming within Group 3 company at Meydan when he finished a fine fourth of fifteen and a length and a half behind the winner. A repeat of that level of form would probably be enough to take this, and he’s only five pounds higher than his last handicap success. I think he looks rock-solid. Cover Up – 13/2 (Each-Way)
3.35 Musselburgh: Virgin Bet Queen’s Cup: The final selection of the afternoon comes within the feature race at Musselburgh, which is the Queen’s Cup over a mile and six furlongs. I like Align The Stars in this, who’s another for the team of Charlie Johnston and Joe Fanning. He progressed well last term, winning competitive handicaps before finding graded contests a bit too hot, and was gelded over the winter. He made his return at Nottingham earlier this month in the Listed Further Flight Stakes and posted an encouraging effort when finishing third and three-quarters of a length behind the smart Al Qareem. That level of form could be enough to go close in this, and he’s only two pounds higher in the weights than his last handicap success. Align The Stars – 15/2 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several firms)
