Hi all,
A pre Monday Bank Holiday treat with the first leg of the Sky Bet Sunday Series which heads to Musselburgh for the first time.
I’m playing catch up today after my day at Ripon yesterday so don’t have time to go into too much detail but here are a few pointers in a short preview of the Musselburgh card.
Musselburgh
4:15 – Trainer James Ferguson is 3-8 with his runners in the past 14 days and he saddles Chealamy who improved on her seasonal return /handicap debut when a improved when 2 ¼ length 2nd of 8 at Southwell 26-days ago. Stall 11 could have been better but Billy Loughnane has been booked to take off a handy 5lb. Favourite Elim won a what looked a weak maiden at Newcastle last time but looks on a good mark for her handicap/turf debut and looks better drawn in stall 4.
5:45 – Spioradalta a winner of a Catterick nursery last September. He maintained his improvement to finish in the places on his final three starts in nursery company last season. He’s made a good start to the new season finishing third at Nottingham and then was a shade unlucky in the run when a 1 ½ length 2nd of 6 at Ripon 10-days ago. Vulnerable to less exposed types in 3-year-old handicaps but should give his running once more.
6:15 – Mister Bluebird’s latest win came over C&D last June, from 1lb lower. Not the best of draws from stall 11 but the booking of Billy Loughnane is an eye-catching one and looks set for a big run on his seasonal return. Gioia Cieca seemed to have benefited from wind surgery when a 2 ¾ length 3rd of 11 to Gweedore in a better race over C&D 22-days ago. That was a step back in the right direction from the 5-year-old who is now 13lb lower than this time last season.
6:45 – The most competitive race on the card with 16 handicappers over the minimum trip. Rock Melody caught the eye when a running on 1 ½ length 4th of 16 over C&D 22-days ago. The filly dropped down to 5f for the first time on her debut for the Jim Goldie yard didn’t get the best of runs 2f last time and shouldn’t be long in winning for new connections. Edward Cornelius was a generally consistent sprint handicapper last season. The 4-year-old won first time up last season and won over C&D as a juvenile on his racecourse debut. He could go well given his record fresh although stall 3 could be better on the straight course. Sacred Jewel has what could be handy draw in stall 17. A winner on her seasonal return at Leicester last May, she ended last season with a career best on RPR’s when a neck 2nd of 15 at York last September and may well have held on if she hadn’t wandered close home. Given the speed she showed at York if she can bag the stands rail, she will be tough to peg back here. Mattice probably needed the run when a 7 ¾ length 6th of 13 to Silky Wilkie in a better race over C&D 22-days ago. He’s started this season off what looks like a competitive mark and stall 12 looks a decent draw if he can build on last times effort.
Betting Advice:
Musselburgh
6:15 – Mister Bluebird – 1pt win – 5/1 @ Bet365 &Paddy Power and Gioia Cieca – 1pt win – 6/1 @ Bet365 & William Hill.
6:45 – Sacred Jewel – 1pt win – 13/2 @ Bet365 & William Hill and Mattice – 1pt win – 15/2 Bet365 & William Hill.
Cheers
John