The Betway Easter Saturday Racecard Preview

1.20 Betway EBF Novice Stakes

A field of four unraced two year olds have been declared for the opening contest. There isn’t a great deal to go on at this stage in their career. Any of the runners could be anything and the market will be the best guide in this instance.

While he’s still not actually two years old – having been born on 18 April 2019 – The Gatekeeper’s half-brother Time Shanakill managed to win on his two year old debut in Italy, so there is precociousness in the family. 

1.50 Betway Musselburgh Silver Arrow Handicap

In the last three running’s of this race, it has been hugely favoured, as is often the case at Musselburgh on the round course, to be drawn low, with stalls 4, 3 and 3 berthing the winner.

Marshal Dan is just 4lb higher than when he won over course and distance in October and if he’s fit and well, he could run very well first time out.

It’s worth noting that when Ian Williams sends horses North from his West Midlands base, his strike rates are impressive. Despite being drawn unfavourably in 11, he saddles Ejtilaab who is still lightly raced and I’m of the opinion, we’re yet to see the best of him.

At a much bigger price, Manigordo is having his first start for the Tim Easterby yard since leaving Richard Hannon. He was always highly thought of and if the change of scenery has helped him, his mark of 84 could underestimate his ability.

2.25 Betway Royal Mile Handicap

Much like the previous race, the mile course often shows a bias to be drawn low. In the last five renewals of this race, the race has been won by stalls, 3,2,3,5,6. However, this year sees a smaller field than average go to post, so the draw may not be so much of an issue.

When Forest Falcon was stepped up to a mile on his third career start, he bolted up at Yarmouth. He’d run well in a strong novice and a strong novice race and clearly improved for going up in distance. His yard have been amongst the winners of late, so he is going to be tough to beat.

Any runner that local trainer Keith Dalgleish saddles at Musselburgh, should be given a second look. Heights Of Abraham won at Musselburgh as a two year old and also managed to win at Doncaster on his final start of the season. He looks as though he could be better than his current mark of 83, if he has trained on.

The market will be a good guide on both of the Richard Fahey horses, both of whom look as though they’ll improve this season, too.

3.00 Betway Scottish Sprint Cup

While the low draw is favourable on the round course, it often pays to be drawn high on the straight course at Musselburgh. It is also often beneficial to be forward going and up with the pace in five furlong races at the track.

Justanotherbottle will be forward going, that’s for sure. He’s drawn in stall 11 and has already had a prep run at Wolverhampton recently, which would have put him spot on for this.

Copper Knight was fourth in this race last year and has gone well on other occasions here in the past.

Latin Five showed promise in three starts for his new yard last season. His trainer Paul Midgley – who saddles four in this contest – is a master of training sprinters. He does need to improve slightly, but it’s not out the realms of possibility.

3.35 Betway Queens Cup

The feature race on the card is the Betway Queens Cup, run over 1m6f. Betway ambassador Andrew Balding saddles two runners who have made the long journey up from his Hampshire base.

Nate The Great has obvious claims. He’s a very smart horse who was a good winner last time out and some of the form in his book, is amongst the strongest in this field.

The Park House Stables trainer also runs Diocletian, who can often run free and be too keen. He’s more than capable on his day though and is fit from his recent hurdling runs.

As mentioned previously, it’s worth taking a look at anything Keith Dalgleish runners. He saddles Alright Sunshine who is unbeaten at Musselburgh in four career starts. He recently ran in a Grade 2 race over hurdles and this is a drop down in class, albeit in a different code. He looks a solid each way proposition.

4.11 Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap

A maximum field of 17 have been declared for this Class 4 five furlong sprint.

It’s a wide-open looking contest and a case could be made for plenty of the field.

Tanasoq is very, very dangerously handicapped off a mark of 689. Yes, he’s not the same horse he once was, but he ran well on a number of occasions last season, in better races and off a much higher mark. He’s run well fresh in the past, too.

His stablemate Primo’s Comet was an eye-catcher at Newcastle last time out and a return to the turf could bring out further improvement. He’s also well handicapped off a mark of 67. Hollie Doyle has been booked for the ride.

Fox Hill was only beaten a short head on his only start at the course in October last year and he runs off the same mark again.

4.46 Betway Handicap

The final race on the card is a mile handicap for horses rated 0-60.

Despite having to concede weight all around, Merricourt is the best horse in the race and has run well off a higher mark than this. He’s a course and distance winner who ran okay on the all-weather 8 days ago.

Jungle Book has some good form in the book in the past but does need to improve on what he’d shown in the second half of last season. If the first-time hood makes the difference, he could go well under Phil Dennis.

By Chad Yeomans, Betway