August 28 / 16.05 Musselburgh

16.05

Good

Portobello Cup Handicap

  • Prize money: £10468
  • 2m 2f 28y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
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Portobello Cup Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 48-156

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Won over hurdles in March and back on the Flat (Hamilton 1m5f) in May; backward steps on last two starts, trying cheekpieces (kept here) when 50-1 over 2m at Ascot on latest; just 1lb above that Hamilton mark but it's hard to rely on him being back at that form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

6th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

18:43 Hexham

Two Auld Pals

11st 9lb

J: Gregor Walkingshaw

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Handled testing conditions best, bounding clear to make it 2-3 over C&D (soft; a 23l winner) four weeks ago; the handicapper has reacted, and he's now 9lb higher moving up into a Class 4; still enters calculations though, with 10lb claimer Gregor Walkingshaw retaining the ride.

7/4

1st

1

9th May 2026

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

18:47 Hexham

Two Auld Pals

12st 0lb

J: Gregor Walkingshaw

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Not really firing on all cylinders when last seen in the winter but returns from 12-week break on a good mark and is versatile regarding ground; gained his only hurdle win over C&D; no surprise if he features.

8/1

8th

12

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Carlisle

Two Auld Pals

11st 4lb

J: Gregor Walkingshaw

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Five-time Flat winner who has a consistent profile over hurdles; handles soft ground but has a bit to find with He's Bresilian on last month's Ayr form.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 475543 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Five wins last term, the last over C&D in September and she has a 7lb lower mark today; that's having gone the wrong way this year after a creditable reappearance, but she needs a second look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

(2)

12th Oct 2024

Soft

2m 0f 56y

Class 3

16:30 York

Yorkindness

8st 7lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Charlie Johnston

Won a soft-ground maiden but best efforts when it's not so deep; 0-10 this season, nearly winning at Musselburgh in August but beaten over 20l on last two outings; down the weights but it's hard to have confidence in her.

20/1

3

(8)

7th Oct 2024

Soft

2m 2f 2y

Class 5

15:37 Pontefract

Yorkindness

10st 1lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Charlie Johnston

Has won on soft, best form on faster ground; 0-9 this season but nearly won at Musselburgh in August; stiff task last time; three-time Pontefract scorer and looks interesting off a workable mark back here.

7/1

9th

12

(6)

21st Sep 2024

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 2

15:55 Newmarket

Yorkindness

8st 2lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Charlie Johnston

in touch with leaders

16/1

Form: -25003 C

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Has done well over 1m4f here; also scored over hurdles in July and went close in a five-runner race back over 1m4f here on latest outing; his only attempt beyond 1m5f on Flat was in this race last year when beaten a neck in five-runner race, a slowly run affair but he's not entirely ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

(11)

24th Aug 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 5

15:15 Musselburgh

Simple Star

9st 9lb

J: Sam James

T: Gary Rutherford

Three wins over 1m4f here, the latest off 4lb higher last August (good) when with Dianne Sayer; tailed off over 1m5f here last time (slowly away); takes a significant drop in trip; cheekpieces tried.

33/1

5th

2

(3)

7th Aug 2026

Good

1m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:24 Musselburgh

Simple Star

9st 13lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Gary Rutherford

Won over a slightly shorter trip here fpr Dianne Sayer a year ago but has not been firing on all cylinders this season; managed only fourth of six here (2m, good) on last week's stable debut; needs to up his game.

20/1

4th

5

(4)

31st Jul 2026

Good

1m 7f 217y

Class 5

20:25 Musselburgh

Simple Star

9st 2lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Gary Rutherford

Three course wins over shorter but does stay this trip; mixed bag so far this year and he needs a recent stable switch (same owner) to spark something extra.

10/1

Form: 364631

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Has popped up in front just once in each of the last two seasons, including at Beverley latest start; back up 3lb but had better form last year and it would not surprise to see him on the premises.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

5

(13)

29th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

19:25 Down Royal

Pons Aelius

9st 9lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: H D McGuigan

Six-time winner at up to 2m in Britain but yet to hit any sort of form for current yard; career-low mark and tongue-tie tried so don't rule out.

12/1

11th

7

(16)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 190y

15:22 Sligo

Pons Aelius

9st 11lb

J: Gabriella Hill

T: H D McGuigan

Donegal yard likes to pick up horses with back-form, often from Britain, and try to rejuvenate them; six-time winner at up to 2m but hasn't been finishing out his races in Ireland and been off a while.

18/1

8th

9

(9)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

2m 0f 0y

17:15 Dundalk (AW)

Pons Aelius

9st 0lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: H D McGuigan

Six-time winner for Charlie Johnston and best form over this trip; poor on first two runs for this yard at big prices; better than bare result when beaten over 5l at Gowran last May; yard's first runner of the year won on Tuesday; no surprise were he to go well after a break with leading claimer aboard.

20/1

Form: 261200

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Won at Ayr (1m7f) in May and front-running second in the Northumberland Vase at Newcastle (2m, AW) in June; finished last, however, at York and Newcastle on last two outings; blinkered once and a visor now replaces his usual cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

(9)

13th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 217y

Class 5

15:22 Musselburgh

Show No Fear

10st 2lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Rebecca Menzies

Gained most recent success off just 1lb lower in June (over 2m at Catterick); however, subsequent form (Flat/hurdles) is unconvincing.

12/1

2

24th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:25 Perth

Show No Fear

11st 12lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Four-time Flat winner who got off the mark over hurdles at Carlisle (2m3f, good) in April; only 2lb higher today and could plausibly have untapped potential over this longer trip but disappointed on last two outings (hurdles/Flat) and arrives here with a point to prove.

14/1

4

(4)

1st Aug 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 5

14:40 Newcastle (AW)

Show No Fear

9st 5lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Rebecca Menzies

Front-runner who has made all in all four of his victories on the Flat, including two over C&D; modest over hurdles 12 days ago but respected back here, especially as he may again enjoy the run of the race; new headgear combination.

11/2

Form: 3-3661 C

Last run: 19 days

W: 8st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Co-favourite and back to form when winning a six-runner race here (1m6f, good) in clearcut style 19 days ago, leading 5f out; back up 3lb but ran well over 2m1f in June and can be in the shake-up if he holds his form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(7)

1st Oct 2025

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 6

16:38 Musselburgh

Rory The Cat

9st 3lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Went close off 8lb higher in this race (good) last year but he's generally struggled since (Flat and hurdles) and was a remote fourth of five here last time; that took his losing run to 12 and others are preferred.

15/2

4

(4)

14th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

15:25 Musselburgh

Rory The Cat

8st 11lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won over 1m6f here last August off 3lb higher but below form since; showed a bit more when third of five over C&D (good) 19 days ago, however, and a further 2lb drop in the weights gives him a fighting chance.

5/2

2

(3)

26th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

16:50 Musselburgh

Rory The Cat

9st 9lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Now 1lb lower than his win here over 1m6f (good) last August but he's been well beaten in three starts this summer, on this track and at Ayr; bit to prove.

10/1

Form: 217524

Last run: 22 days

W: 8st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
2-10 on AW; 0-12 on turf but went very close when returning to form over C&D (good) last month; ran respectably at Catterick (good to firm) two weeks later; upped from Class 6, may need a career best to win this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(2)

26th Aug 2026

Good

1m 5f 192y

Class 6

15:45 Catterick

Zephlyn

9st 11lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ewan Whillans

Won back-to-back 2m handicaps here in May of last year and those were off higher marks; however, recent efforts leave him with much to prove.

7/1

6th

4

(4)

4th Aug 2026

Good

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

15:15 Catterick

Zephlyn

9st 5lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ewan Whillans

Dual C&D winner last May, the most recent coming off a 7lb higher mark than today's; failed to beat a rival home here in May and he was pulled up over hurdles when last seen 52 days ago; bit to prove after those efforts.

5/1

3

13th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

13:42 Hexham

Zephlyn

11st 13lb

J: William Maggs

T: Ewan Whillans

Below par on the AW this year and again failed to fire when last of five on the Flat at Carlisle (2m, good to firm) two weeks ago; however, his earlier fourth on handicap hurdle debut at Perth (2m4f, good) was more encouraging and gives him a chance of making the frame now down in trip.

10/1

20/1

Form: 477258

Last run: 23 days

W: 8st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 53

Form & Verdict
Six-race maiden; ran his best race when staying on into second of seven late in the day on handicap debut over C&D (ridden by Amie Waugh) in early July; flopped back here next time but 4l eighth at Carlisle in first-time cheekpieces gave a little renewed hope; 2lb out of the handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(1)

25th Aug 2026

Good

2m 2f 28y

Class 4

15:45 Musselburgh

Trojan Sun

9st 6lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Won this in 2024 and posted his first win of this year at Carlisle (1m6f, good) in June; soundly beaten on his last two starts but this four-time course winner could bounce back returned to Musselburgh.

12/1

7th

18

(9)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 4f 137y

Class 2

13:50 Goodwood

Trojan Sun

8st 2lb

J: Olivia Tubb

T: Jim Goldie

Running away with a 2m2f race on heavy going under 7lb claimer at Nottingham last October was a clear career best at the time; virtually matched that form in three of his races in a mixed campaign this year and maybe an increased stamina test will help, but being 5lb out of the handicap won't.

50/1

10th

4

(2)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 4

18:05 York

Trojan Sun

9st 3lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Won at Carlisle (1m6f, good) last month and bounced back from lesser run there (1m3f, good to firm) when third over this C&D a fortnight ago (stablemate Furhaan second); might not be far away.

10/1

Non-runners

Tailorman

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Rory The Cat

The Times:

Simple Star

TOPSPEED:

Trojan Sun

The Guardian:

Pons Aelius

RP RATINGS:

Two Auld Pals

POSTDATA:

Yorkindness

D Express:

Trojan Sun

Telegraph:

Rory The Cat

Daily Mirror:

Rory The Cat

The Sun:

Rory The Cat

Daily Record:

Pons Aelius

Daily Mail:

Simple Star

The Star:

Simple Star