June 13 / 18.40 Musselburgh

18.40

Good To Firm

James Jones Sawmill Handicap

  • Prize money: £4187.2
  • 1m 7f 217y
  • Class 5
  • 4 runners
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James Jones Sawmill Handicap

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00

Form: 80-063 CD

Last run: 10 days

W: 8st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
The 9yo isn't the force of old but he's dropped down the weights and was a close third off this mark at Ayr (1m5f, good) ten days ago; has won over C&D and he's a contender if that recent revival isn't a one-off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

15th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 5

16:20 Wetherby

Red Force One

11st 11lb

J: Miss Natasha Cookson

T: Philip Kirby

Well-beaten when back over hurdles last month but stayed on well from poor position to go close under Natasha Cookson at Kelso (2m5f, good) ten days ago and looks well worth a crack at 3m.

7/2

10

16th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

14:10 Uttoxeter

Red Force One

11st 1lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Won small-field Flat marathon off much reduced mark last month but has not run over hurdles since summer 2023 and his current ability in this sphere is hard to gauge; best suited by good or faster ground.

25/1

OUR TIP

15/8

Form: -42313 C

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Won twice here last summer and back on the scoresheet at Ayr (1m5f, good) last month; another good run when third of 14 at Hamilton (1m3f, good) 11 days ago and she's fine at 2m; very solid claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(7)

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 4

16:30 York

Tafsir

9st 4lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

First visit here; excels at Hamilton, where she was short-headed last month (1m4f, soft), and she was always behind at Ayr on Thursday on a very rare crack at 1m2f (heavy); attempts at this trip have also been scarce but there have been hints that it's a distance at which she could have untapped potential.

16/1

2

(7)

9th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

13:40 Ayr

Tafsir

10st 2lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Course winner who was beaten by a short head at Hamilton (1m4f, soft) last time; she excels at Hamilton and has never won over a trip this short, but her surplus stamina may be no bad thing given the testing conditions.

11/2

2nd

2

(1)

22nd Sep 2025

Soft

1m 4f 15y

Class 4

15:33 Hamilton

Tafsir

9st 12lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Lost a lot of ground at the start at Ayr last Thursday so there's a risk attached on the back of that; however, in the circumstances she did well to finish third of six (beaten just over 9l) and three of her last four wins have come here (on various ground) including this race last year; capable.

6/1

Form: 425622 BF

Last run: 10 days

W: 8st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
Won at Newcastle (1m4f, AW) in January and he's been a good second the last twice, here (1m4f, good) and at Ayr (1m5f, good); unproven at today's longer trip but he can be in the mix if seeing it out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

10

(4)

2nd Jun 2026

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

18:45 Newcastle (AW)

Desert Quest

8st 11lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Ewan Whillans

C&D winner in January 2024 and several fair efforts after that; ran his best race since a 590-day break when a good fourth at Catterick last time; each-way chance.

7/1

4th

8

(6)

11th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 13y

Class 6

16:30 Catterick

Desert Quest

9st 3lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Ewan Whillans

Well treated on his 2024 exploits and, having returned from a long absence in February, it's possible he's working his way back into form; however, this 8yo is not easy to fancy on the evidence of this year's two runs.

33/1

5th

10

(6)

12th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 5

17:08 Newcastle (AW)

Desert Quest

8st 7lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Ewan Whillans

Pulled hard when finishing last in a 0-55 handicap over C&D recently, his first start in around 18 months; entitled to improve but is very hard to recommend.

33/1

Form: 4334-5

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Displayed promise on the Flat in Ireland last season and also over hurdles early this year; however, he was only fifth back on the Flat at Thirsk (1m6f, good to soft) last month and needs a bigger run now in cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

10

27th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

19:08 Cartmel

Rioja Alta

10st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

C&D winner off 2lb lower last summer (soft) and some respectable runs in the meantime; the latest at Perth wasn't one of them but he's hard to rule out.

8/1

5th

1

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Rioja Alta

12st 0lb

J: Miss Becky Smith

T: Micky Hammond

Winner off 3lb lower at Cartmel last summer (2m6f, soft); two good runs this year, latest when third in a stronger race at Wetherby (3m, good to soft); chance down in grade.

9/2

3rd

11

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 4

16:22 Wetherby

Rioja Alta

10st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

Won at Cartmel (2m6f, soft) last July and he's worked his way back to form, finishing third of eight at Catterick (3m1f, soft) in January; faces tougher opposition today, however, and needs another step forward.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.80
Straight Forecast £6.97
Trifecta £11.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Tafsir

D Express:

Desert Quest

RP RATINGS:

Tafsir

POSTDATA:

Tafsir

The Times:

Tafsir

Telegraph:

Tafsir

The Guardian:

Tafsir

Daily Mail:

Tafsir

The Sun:

Tafsir

The Star:

Tafsir

Daily Record:

Tafsir

Daily Mirror:

Desert Quest