Racing Preview - The Virgin Bet Scottish Sprint Cup Raceday

The 1m 6f contest for four-year-olds and upwards sees Al Qareem the top-rated of the six entries on a BHA mark of 114. Trained by Karl Burke, he was a dual Group 3 winner last season when his final appearance was a cracking third behind Trawlerman at Ascot in the Group 1 Long Distance Cup on Qipco British Champion Day.

Next highest rated on 107 is Andrew Balding’s Mount Atlas, who carries the colours made famous by Mill Reef, who was trained by his late father Ian to land several major races including the 1971 Derby.

Dual-purpose six-year-old Roaring Legend, rated 104, is a fascinating contender for Olly Murphy. He has winning form over jumps and on the Flat and was runner-up in the 2024 Scottish Triumph Hurdle on his only previous visit to Musselburgh.

The £70,000 Virgin Bet Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap over five furlongs is always a target for some of the leading speedsters. Twelve months ago, Jer Batt, trained by father and daughter combination, David and Nicola Barron, was a close third to Jim Goldie’s subsequent Group 1 Royal Ascot winner American Affair.

Goldie is triple-handed this time around with Eternal Sunshine, Gangsta Man and Jordan Electrics, while top-weight and one of the ante-post favourites is the Kevin Ryan-trained Against The Wind, who has already finished a close third in a decent race at Southwell this year.

Wise Eagle, trained in Northumberland by former jump jockey Adam Nicol, is a Musselburgh favourite and bids to repeat his 2023 success in the £50,000 Virgin Bet daily Price Boost Queen’s Cup Handicap over 1m 6f. The one to beat could be Moon Over Miami, who has won all three races he has contested on turf for Hampshire trainer Ralph Beckett. 

Also carrying £50,000 in prize money is the Livescore Bet Silver Arrow Handicap over seven-furlongs. Featured among the 10 runners is Katie Scott’s six-time course winner Gweedore, who scorched home in the race in 2022 and 2023 and was just pipped into second place last year by Persuasion, who is after revenge for that narrow reverse.

Musselburgh Racecourse director, Bill Farnsworth, said:

“Quality shines through in the depth and breadth of runners featuring across our Easter Saturday card and it lays the foundations for what will be an excellent Flat season.

The addition of the Goliath Cup reinforces Musselburgh’s growing reputation as an ambitious and progressive racecourse, while anchoring Easter Saturday as a nationally relevant fixture. This new race provides trainers with a valuable early-season Class 1 opportunity for stayers at the beginning of the turf flat racing season and we are delighted to add this to our programme.

“We recognise that prize money is the lifeblood of the sport and with Easter Saturday’s £307,000 prize pot and a further £200,000 on offer at our Sky Bet Sunday Series Raceday on 12 April, Musselburgh is stepping up to the plate in supporting owners and trainers, which we hope will encourage them to continue to invest in our brilliant sport.”