June 06 / 16.10 Musselburgh

16.10

Good

Edinburgh Cup Handicap

  • Prize money: £25770
  • 1m 0f 208y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Edinburgh Cup Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.70
  • Place: £2.40

Form: 3-1216

Last run: 9 days

W: 8st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Maintained his progress when repelling Victory Ace for a second AW success in May (1m) and Sandown last time didn't go entirely to plan after hitting traffic; remains of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

(1)

6th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 2

16:10 Musselburgh

Blues And Royals

8st 8lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Michael Bell

Maintained his progress when repelling Victory Ace for a second AW success in May (1m) and Sandown last time didn't go entirely to plan after hitting traffic; remains of interest.

4/1

6th

3

(4)

28th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

20:20 Sandown

Blues And Royals

9st 9lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Michael Bell

Dual AW winner this year but he's fine on turf too and ran creditably when second of ten at Musselburgh (again 1m, good) in April; up 5lb for latest Kempton success three weeks ago but likely he can do better again.

11/2

1st

1

(3)

6th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:30 Kempton (AW)

Blues And Royals

9st 9lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Michael Bell

Solid effort to justify favouritism on his C&D comeback in March, having been gelded, when held up off an ordinary pace; backed that up when one of three to come away behind a cannily ridden winner on turf latest and holds leading claims upped 2lb.

9/4

OUR TIP

16/1

  • Place: £8.10

Form: 117-0

Last run: 53 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Last year's two wins were over 7f on soft/good to soft before finishing tailed off in a Group 2; he worryingly suffered the same fate on handicap debut at the Craven meeting (1m, good) since when he's been gelded; has a few questions to answer now and the cheekpieces are new.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

7

(9)

25th Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

Pandemonium

9st 9lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Bagged Yarmouth maiden and Redcar novice (both 7f) last autumn; cheekpieces fitted and right back on track of late, a close sixth of nine in 1m1f Musselburgh handicap 25 days ago; in the mix on his Tapeta debut with blinkers added.

10/1

6th

7

(6)

30th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 3

15:00 Musselburgh

Pandemonium

8st 11lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Started career with 7f wins in maiden and novice events (soft/good to soft) but things went haywire after, way behind in Group 3 (9-1) and on handicap debut at Newmarket (1m; 7-1); gelded since though and returned with a much better effort, losing out only late over C&D (good; first-time cheekpieces); back up 2lb; should find something similar if the mindset holds.

13/2

2nd

2

(5)

6th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 2

16:10 Musselburgh

Pandemonium

8st 13lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Last year's two wins were over 7f on soft/good to soft before finishing tailed off in a Group 2; he worryingly suffered the same fate on handicap debut at the Craven meeting (1m, good) since when he's been gelded; has a few questions to answer now and the cheekpieces are new.

16/1

Form: 1-1389 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Has done well for one who opened his account in a seller, bagging his second handicap over 1m here in April; however, progress has stalled, markedly so in his last two races (competitive ones admittedly).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

12

(10)

11th Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 1f 35y

Class 3

19:00 Hamilton

Strength Of Spirit

9st 4lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

Made a winning reappearance at Musselburgh (1m, good to soft; first start since being gelded) in April and he also went close there over 1m1f in June; down the field at Goodwood (1m2f, good to firm) 12 days ago having raced freely, but it's likely this slight drop back in trip will suit.

20/1

10th

11

(10)

30th Jul 2026

Good

1m 1f 197y

Class 2

13:50 Goodwood

Strength Of Spirit

8st 9lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: K R Burke

Three wins from ten races, the latest win in April on reappearance; well beaten here in May but that was 7f and he's done much better when finishing close up from towards rear over 1m1f at Musselburgh on his two outings since; better is needed but 1m2f looks plausible.

25/1

4th

8

(2)

30th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 3

15:00 Musselburgh

Strength Of Spirit

8st 11lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Three wins at 7f and 1m (on this track; good to soft) but topped those efforts when a running-on close third, just behind Pandemonium over C&D (good; same terms) this month; should have more options now he's shown he stays this far; solid chance for last year's winning yard.

11/2

Form: 321-53

Last run: 26 days

W: 8st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Brighton novice winner last season at 1m; gelded in November; perhaps needed his first run back and then he stuck on gamely for a close third at Windsor (1m, good to firm); could step up again but will need to in this better race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(2)

26th Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

19:30 Newbury

Magical Merlot

9st 4lb

J: David Egan

T: Ed Dunlop

Won a Brighton novice (1m, good to firm) last October and has run with credit in handicaps over 1m/1m1f since returning in April, without looking ahead of his mark; this return to a longer trip may help, but others are still preferred.

6/1

4th

7

(6)

13th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 31y

Class 4

18:41 Windsor

Magical Merlot

9st 1lb

J: David Egan

T: Ed Dunlop

1m novice winner at two and then gelded; slow starts weren't helping matters this season but raced in touch last time at Lingfield (1m1f) and they all bumped into an improver; could go well.

4/1

3rd

4

(2)

27th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

Class 4

18:25 Lingfield

Magical Merlot

9st 2lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Ed Dunlop

Often pulled hard last year and was gelded over the winter; this season his issue has been blowing the start and that's what cost him any chance last time; up to winning off this mark but has to be considered risky now.

7/2

7/1

Form: 13P-3

Last run: 63 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Pulled up on his final run for Godolphin but his first two efforts read well; joined current yard for 25,000gns and kept on takingly for third behind Strength Of Spirit over 1m here in April (handicap debut); open to improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

11

(10)

29th Jul 2026

Yielding

1m 0f 123y

19:50 Galway

Monoceros

9st 5lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: Iain Jardine

Newmarket debut winner for Charlie Appleby last summer (7f, good-to-firm); creditable yard debut in Musselburgh handicap in April but has taken a backward step both starts since.

14/1

6/1

Form: 678-12

Last run: 31 days

W: 8st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Picked up from Roger Varian for 40,000gns; edged home on his handicap debut over 7f and again did his best work late at Kempton (1m, AW) when closing in on Blues And Royals with whom he's closely matched; goes further again here with little weight to carry and looks a major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

(6)

19th Aug 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Victory Ace

9st 4lb

J: Sean Levey

T: John Butler

Doubled his tally when narrowly winning over 1m at Newcastle last month and followed up with another narrow AW success here over 7f in first-time cheekpieces two weeks ago; they are now discarded but he's shortlisted off this 4lb higher mark.

5/1

1st

7

(5)

5th Aug 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

20:20 Kempton (AW)

Victory Ace

9st 4lb

J: Mikey Sheehy

T: John Butler

Has been racing over further since making a successful handicap debut/reappearance at Lingfield (7f, Polytrack) in April, narrowly regaining winning form at Newcastle (1m, Tapeta) 11 days ago; only 2lb higher and return to this trip shouldn't be an issue; cheekpieces given a go.

11/2

Form: 7212-5

Last run: 41 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
AW winner for Ger Lyons, for whom he was 1-7; weak in the betting when fifth of 11 on yard debut at Wetherby but, although he wasn't beaten far, that was a Class 4; the hood that worked well for him in Ireland now returns.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(4)

9th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:44 Leicester

Evening Blues

9st 11lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Stephen Hanlon

Well beaten in a big field at York (6f, good to firm) a fortnight ago and something to prove after that, but he was second of 14 over the same C&D (good) in June and is not written off.

3/1

18th

18

(1)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:00 York

Evening Blues

8st 8lb

J: Robbie Downey

T: Stephen Hanlon

Promising at up to 1m for Ger Lyons as a 2yo; unplaced in his first two runs (7f/1m1f) for this yard but he turned in a career-best effort when second of 14 (behind a handicap blot; pair clear) over C&D four weeks ago; showed good speed on that occasion and he should make a bold bid from stall 1 despite a 4lb rise.

12/1

2nd

1

(3)

27th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:15 York

Evening Blues

9st 9lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Stephen Hanlon

1m AW maiden winner in November for Ger Lyons; encouraging stable debut when beaten just over 2l at Wetherby (7f, good to firm) in April but it all went wrong when racing far too freely over 1m1f three weeks ago; takes a sharp drop in trip.

33/1

Non-runners

Haayimm

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £96.80
Straight Forecast £89.11
Tricast £279.32
Trifecta £365.30

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Haayimm

D Express:

Magical Merlot

TOPSPEED:

Strength Of Spirit

The Times:

Monoceros

SPOTLIGHT:

Victory Ace

NEWMARKET:

Blues And Royals

The Guardian:

Evening Blues

POSTDATA:

Haayimm

Daily Mail:

Haayimm

Daily Mirror:

Haayimm

The Star:

Haayimm

Daily Record:

Haayimm

The Sun:

Magical Merlot

Telegraph:

Strength Of Spirit