August 27 / 16.00 Musselburgh

16.00

Good

Portobello Cup Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £10468
  • 2m 2f 28y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Portobello Cup Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 362131

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish mare who's barely put a foot wrong this year for current yard; that includes wins at Pontefract (1m4f) and Carlisle (1m6f) on two of her last three outings, both on good (unraced on firmer); shaped as if she got 2m on Newcastle AW in between (6l third to Stand Strong) but the 1m6f win was clearly her best effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(6)

13th Sep 2025

Good

2m 2f 28y

Class 4

18:22 Musselburgh

Paper Doll

9st 8lb

J: David Nolan

T: Tristan Davidson

Steadily progressive for current yard and successful in last three turf attempts (1m4f-2m2f, good), beating Simple Star over C&D latest; may not have reached her ceiling yet; major player.

7/2

1st

3

(6)

27th Aug 2025

Good

2m 2f 28y

Class 4

16:00 Musselburgh

Paper Doll

9st 6lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Tristan Davidson

Ex-Irish mare who's barely put a foot wrong this year for current yard; that includes wins at Pontefract (1m4f) and Carlisle (1m6f) on two of her last three outings, both on good (unraced on firmer); shaped as if she got 2m on Newcastle AW in between (6l third to Stand Strong) but the 1m6f win was clearly her best effort.

9/2

1st

6

(7)

12th Aug 2025

Good

1m 6f 32y

Class 4

15:15 Carlisle

Paper Doll

9st 6lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Tristan Davidson

Ex-Irish mare who's barely put a foot wrong for her current yard; bumped into one at Ayr before a Pontefract win off 6lb lower and is shortlisted back on to turf, having found trouble on Tapeta latest.

7/2

5/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 8-0451 C

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
2m hurdles winner (made all) in July and his excellent 1m4f record here got better still with a clearcut win in five-runner race here on latest outing; narrow defeat in a slowly run edition of this race in 2023 may not be a reliable indicator of his stamina, though, as he's been a disappointing favourite here since when tried once each at 2m2f (this race 2024) and 2m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

24th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

17:22 Kelso

Simple Star

11st 11lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Dianne Sayer

Not seen over hurdles since scoring at Perth (2m) last July but he comes here fit from the Flat and was also a good second on this card 12 months ago; considered.

5/1

6th

8

(7)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 217y

Class 4

18:15 Musselburgh

Simple Star

9st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Dianne Sayer

Plentiful form at Musselburgh with three C&D wins, including last August for his only Flat win last year (4lb higher today); never dangerous when 50-1 for reappearance here two weeks ago but showed promise from out the back and could be a lot more potent this time.

14/1

OUR TIP

11/2

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 9-8834

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
2023 was his heyday; no win since, closest finish when bang there under 7lb claimer in four-runner race at Newbury (2m, good to firm) penultimate start; however, shaped much better than 15l defeat suggests when 40-1 fourth at Goodwood (2m4f) on latest, challenging strongly over 2f out; each-way player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(6)

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 24y

Class 5

16:15 Bath

Bashful Boy

9st 2lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: David Pipe

Veteran who hasn't won since 2023 but he's been in fair form on AW this spring including when fourth on Polytrack (2m) in his last two starts; should be in the mix again but he needs to find more to make a big impact; cheekpieces are removed and blinkers return.

9/2

4th

4

(1)

6th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

17:50 Kempton (AW)

Bashful Boy

9st 12lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: David Pipe

Veteran who hasn't won since 2023; expensive to follow in recent times but he arrives in form and this is a touch easier again off a career-low mark; can't be left out of calculations.

4/1

4th

4

(4)

20th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

14:12 Lingfield (AW)

Bashful Boy

9st 7lb

J: Jack Dace

T: David Pipe

Losing run dates back to July 2023; conditions are no problem for this veteran and he has been running respectably of late; others appeal more all the same.

8/1

Form: 042751

Last run: 26 days

W: 8st 5lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
0-13 before he was upped to 2m at Newcastle (AW) last month and was produced in front late on for a clearcut win; back up 4lb but today's additional step up in distance now looks interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(6)

11th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

15:30 Catterick

Stand Strong

9st 6lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Ewan Whillans

He lacks a recent outing and was inconsistent last year but reappears on a competitive mark and his trainer won this last year; ran well last May on his sole previous visit to Catterick and could have a part to play.

12/1

4

(8)

9th Oct 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

16:20 Newcastle (AW)

Stand Strong

9st 11lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Ewan Whillans

Solid over C&D of late, running out a convincing winner to make his breakthrough at the start of August before a narrow second a fortnight ago; same mark here and he's a leading contender.

100/30

2

(4)

25th Sep 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

18:00 Newcastle (AW)

Stand Strong

9st 13lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Ewan Whillans

Off the mark over this C&D last month but he was held in fourth off this mark at Musselburgh (2m2f, good) 29 days ago; remains unexposed over this trip and he holds claims returned to AW.

5/2

5/1

Form: 536714 CD BF

Last run: 26 days

W: 8st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
All three of his wins have been at Musselburgh, the first of them in this race last year; scored over 1m6f this May and 2m in July, which preceded a modest show behind Lunar Power and Elemental Eye over C&D on latest outing but that was in a sprint finish to a slowly run race; held up lately but made all for the 1m6f win; could bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

12

(7)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

16:45 Hamilton

Trojan Sun

8st 6lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Often ridden by Lauren Young; 4-12 at Musselburgh, including three 1m6f/2m wins on good ground last May-October; also scored at Nottingham in October, a runaway win over 2m2f on heavy going which sees him 2lb higher today; returned to form when third over 2m at Musselburgh three weeks ago but this C&D makes him look vulnerable.

14/1

3rd

7

(6)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 217y

Class 4

18:15 Musselburgh

Trojan Sun

9st 1lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

4-11 at Musselburgh, including three 1m6f/2m wins on good ground last May-October; also scored at Nottingham in October, a runaway win over 2m2f on heavy going which sees him 3lb higher today; soundly beaten at 40-1 here on reappearance three weeks ago and, judged on last season, it may take him another run before he refinds his form.

14/1

9th

13

(7)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 3

15:05 Musselburgh

Trojan Sun

8st 4lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

Musselburgh specialist (4-10 here) who had three wins at this track on good ground last May-October; also scored at Nottingham in October, a runaway win over 2m2f on heavy going which sees him 5lb higher today; needs to hit a new high and may need to front-run back at this trip.

33/1

Form: 632213

Last run: 26 days

W: 8st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Finally opened his account (21st attempt) in a 2m Redcar handicap last month and his very solid sequence this summer continued when third (split Lunar Power and Trojan Sun) in the sprint finish to a C&D race 26 days ago; shouldn't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(6)

17th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:17 Ripon

Elemental Eye

9st 5lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Iain Jardine

Winner at Redcar (2m, good to soft) and Musselburgh (1m6f, soft; by 10l) last term; not disgraced back on Flat at Newcastle (1m4f) in March; cheekpieces get their first airing since October and stepping back up in trip should suit, so he needs a close look.

12/1

Form: -74422

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
No win since a hurdle race in May 2023 but narrowly denied at Thirsk (2m) and Musselburgh (2m2f) on last two outings after setting the pace; in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(10)

18th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 68y

Class 6

14:50 Lingfield

Lunar Power

9st 9lb

J: William Carson

T: Laura Mongan

Won his share in Ireland but has been on the downgrade for a while and has had three different trainers in the past nine months; however, he showed enough on the AW here last time to suggest he has each-way claims back up in trip and down another 2lb.

12/1

6th

2

(4)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

18:10 Lingfield (AW)

Lunar Power

9st 8lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Laura Mongan

Losing run stretches back to May 2023 (hurdles); ended 2025 with some modest efforts for James Owen and fared little better when fifth of seven on his stable debut 11 weeks ago (2m, Polytrack); enough to prove.

16/1

5th

2

(2)

11th Feb 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 6

16:28 Kempton (AW)

Lunar Power

10st 2lb

J: Tyrese Cameron

T: Laura Mongan

Five wins (Flat and hurdles) when trained in Ireland; mixed bag for James Owen when last seen; not on a bad mark if a change of scenery piques his interest.

8/1

Form: 443-78

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Sole win (18 races) was a maiden in 2023; last year's Flat campaign ended with a respectable third over 2m but he's opposable on subsequent evidence, despite his fall in the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

21st Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

14:25 Perth

Clan Chieftain

10st 11lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Jackie Stephen

Flat winner who is 0-8 over hurdles but hasn't been running badly; more new headgear tried but can go well.

14/1

9

8th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

16:15 Sedgefield

Clan Chieftain

10st 12lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Jackie Stephen

Yet to score in this sphere but he arrives in good form, fourth of nine in 2m Perth handicap 13 days ago; he can make his presence felt again with blinkers added.

9/2

4th

4

25th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

15:08 Perth

Clan Chieftain

11st 1lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Jackie Stephen

Fairly useful at his best on the Flat; 0-6 over hurdles but was third off today's mark over C&D (good) in July and also ran well when filling same position at Kelso (2m2f, good) last week; one to consider.

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £25.60
Straight Forecast £28.67
Tricast £76.63
Trifecta £108.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Trojan Sun

The Times:

Simple Star

Telegraph:

Elemental Eye

WEST COUNTRY:

Bashful Boy

The Star:

Stand Strong

RP RATINGS:

Trojan Sun

TOPSPEED:

Trojan Sun

POSTDATA:

Trojan Sun

Daily Mail:

Trojan Sun

Daily Mirror:

Elemental Eye

The Guardian:

Simple Star

D Express:

Simple Star

Daily Record:

Simple Star

The Sun:

Bashful Boy