Newbury and Musselburgh Saturday Preview – DS
Newbury and Musselburgh Saturday Preview and Tips
The less said about Good Friday, the better. Nothing went right and only Nate The Great ran into the money. It was a day to forget and thankfully, we are back on the grass tomorrow. Check out Dave Stevos’ Newbury and Musselburgh Saturday tips below.
1.32 Musselburgh – Royal Mile Handicap (Class 3)
A trappy start to proceedings with this 8f handicap for 3yos only. Nine of the ten runners haven’t had a run yet so fitness will have to be taken on trust. The ground at Musselburgh is good to soft and that will suit some horses better than others. The only horse with a run under his belt is Desert Angel and he’ll enjoy an ease in the ground too. Paul Mulrennan takes the ride and while he has yet to ride a winner for Hannon, he has hit the frame on all three previous rides for the trainer.
This son of Dark Angel had a busy 2yo campaign. After three runs he was handed a mark of 80 and he got off the mark at Doncaster (8f gd/sft) off a mark of 79. Another win quickly followed off 83 at Newmarket (8f gd) before he ran a poor enough race at York.
There was lots to like about his seasonal reappearance at Wolves last month. He ran on well from the back to grab 4th off 88, beat just 1.25L for the win. That proves he can be competitive off his current rating and he races off the same mark here. Richard Hannon’s horses are in great form and at odds of 8/1, Desert Angel can hopefully strike for him here.
Newbury and Musselburgh Saturday Tip: Desert Angel e/w @ 8/1
1.50 Newbury – John Porter Stakes (Group 3)
Just the seven are due to line up in the stalls for this 12f Group 3. Red Verdon is a horse I love but he surely needs further. Thunderous is top rated at 110 but he hasn’t won since July 2020. Ilaraab is a talented sort but he would probably prefer a bit more juice in the ground. The same sentiment applies to Max Vega. Raymond Tusk probably has least question marks against him and if I was having a bet, it would probably be on him. However, I’ll be keeping the powder dry, no bet.
Newbury and Musselburgh Saturday Tip: No Bet
2.04 Musselburgh – Silver Arrow Handicap (Class 2)
Last season, Marshal Dan was sent off at 9/2 in this race on his seasonal return. He was beaten just 0.5L by Eton Rifles off 88 and he is back for another go off 2lbs lower. This horse clearly enjoys the Scottish air as he won off 84 on his only other visit to Musselburgh (7f sft). Last season he managed to score off 85 at Sandown (7f gd) so he is clearly capable of going very close off his current mark of 86.
Heather Main has booked Ben Curtis for the ride this time. He is 1/12 for the yard with three 2nds. Curtis rides Musselburgh particularly well, landing 28 winners (and 56 top 4s) from just 148 rides. Marshal Dan hasn’t had a run yet this year but that’s not a concern. He has an excellent record after breaks of 100 days or more (form figures 222) and given his record at this track, he looks well worth chancing each way at odds of 9/1.
Newbury and Musselburgh Saturday Tip: Marshal Dan e/w @ 9/1
2.25 Newbury – Fred Darling Stakes (Group 3)
I have already put Miss Carol Ann up for the 1000 Guineas at 50/1 so I’ll be backing her here too. Trained by Roger Varian, this daughter of Kingman was ultra-impressive on her debut at Newmarket (7f gd/fm). She bounced out, sat in behind the leaders and she hit the front between the 2f and 1f poles. Andrea Atzeni simply pushed her out and she quickened clear to score quite easily by 2L.
This filly has a lovely mix of speed and stamina in her pedigree. Her dam is a half to a couple of Group winning sprinters and her sire was excellent over a mile. She has already won over 7f so there are no worries about this trip and there has been a few whispers that she has been working very nicely at home. Rain would scupper her chances but the forecast is good and at odds of 12/1, Miss Carol Ann can hopefully go close here before heading onto Newmarket.
Newbury and Musselburgh Saturday Tip: Miss Carol Ann e/w @ 12/1 NAP (4 places Hills)
2.39 Musselburgh – Holyrood Handicap (Class 2)
Few trainers have started the season better than Paul Midgely. He has already fired in three winners, including a handicap double at Thirsk during the week. He relies on Indian Sounds here and off a mark of 88, he is not handicapped out of this. The son of Exceed and Excel didn’t get his head in front last season but he ran some crackers in defeat.
He was beat a head off 86 at Doncaster, 0.5L off 85 at Haydock, a head off 86 at Pontefract and 0.75L off 90 at Pontefract. He then ran arguably his best race of the season over today’s C&D in a class 3 conditions race when beat a nose by Roulston Star. The winner is rated 105 and the 100 rated Makanah was back in 3rd so it was a superb effort.
His form tailed off at the backend of the season but he was probably feeling the effects of a long and tough campaign. The break should have done him good and given his brilliant run at Musselburgh last year, this looks a great race to start back in. He goes on any ground and with Midgely in such good form, Indian Sounds is the e/w selection at 22/1.
Newbury and Musselburgh Saturday Tip: Indian Sounds e/w @ 22/1 (4 places Hills)
3.00 Newbury – Greenham Stakes (Group 3)
Just the six will go to post for this 7f G3 for 3yo colts and geldings. Perfect Power and Angel Bleu are the top rated and they are fighting it out for favouritism. The ground is surely on the fast side for the Beckett horse and with no rain forecast, Perfect Power looks the most likely winner of those two. Lusail is rated just 1lb lower than that pair and he will enjoy the good ground at Newbury. A dual G2 winner last season, he is a fair price at 9/2.
Of the remainder, Wizard Of Eye could be the most overpriced. He is rated 107 and he ran a cracker behind Angel Bleu on unsuitably heavy ground in a G1 at Longchamp in October. A novice winner here over 6f (gd/sft) he then went close in a Deauville G3 behind Who Knows. Stan Moore is in great form and evergreen John Egan is showing no signs of losing his touch. His spin on the dirt in Doha should have this horse fitter than his rivals and at odds of 40/1, he could surprise the big guns with a good run.
Newbury and Musselburgh Saturday Tip: The Wizard Of Eye e/w @ 40/1
3.14 Musselburgh – Queen’s Cup Heritage Handicap (Class 2)
The first of two valuable handicaps that close the show on ITV4 on Saturday. The one I like in this is Heights Of Abraham for Keith Dalgleish and Jimmy Sullivan. A dual winner as a 2yo, this son of Starspangledbanner will enjoy the underfoot conditions at Musselburgh. He has an excellent record on ground with soft in the description (form figures: 412511).
He ran a vey nice race on his last start over 12f on good ground at Musselburgh, his third good run at the track. Dalgleish’s charge just got a bit outpaced before the 2f pole but he stayed on well and was only beat 5L for the win in 4th. The winner Dushan was in off 85 that day (getting 6lbs from our selection) and he is now rated 99. His Haydock 5th on heavy looks alright too with the 4th and 2nd both winning since and the winner Raadobarg landing the Irish Lincolnshire on his return.
Heights Of Abraham ran a grand race on his return at this track last season (8f gd). In hindsight the trip was too short for him and this test should be far more suitable. You wouldn’t think his sire would be much of a stamina influence but this fella definitely shapes like he wants a trip. If he’s fully ready to go, Heights Of Abraham can challenge for honours at odds of 14/1.
Newbury and Musselburgh Saturday Tip: Heights Of Abraham e/w @ 14/1 (4 places)
3.35 Newbury – Spring Cup Handicap (Class 2)
Only 17 out of a max of 27 runners will fight it out in this 8f handicap. Rogue Bear holds obvious claims after his superb run in the Lincoln. The handicapper has generously left his mark alone and Tom Clover will be hoping he can go two places better than at Doncaster. Saleymm, Irish Admiral and Modern News are next best in the betting and they all bring Lincoln form to the table.
Saleymm is a pound higher than when 2nd, 0.75L ahead of Rogue Bear. Modern News was 2L behind those two in 7th off 105 and his mark has been left alone. Irish Admiral was just behind Rogue Bear and Modern News in 4th and he too races off the same mark today. However, when I was watching back the Haydock race in which Heights Of Abraham was 5th behind Raadobarg, Teodolina really caught my eye.
Nightmare Passage
This filly endured a nightmare passage in that race but she stayed on really nicely for 3rd once she found racing room. She was a closing 6L behind the winner off 90 and she is now 1lb lower. She only finished 14th in the Lincoln but it wasn’t that bad a run. The daughter of Kodiac was only beat 6L for the win and she was only 3L behind Modern News.
That run should have blown away any cobwebs and Jamie Spencer looks a great booking for this hold up type. He is 1/5 for this owner with another two Top 4 finishes. She ran well on her only previous visit to Newbury and she goes on any ground, bar extremes. I don’t think she should be 5x the price of Modern News and at 25/1, she is worth chancing e/w.
