April 19 / 17.17 Musselburgh

17.17

Good

Virgin Bet Handicap

  • Prize money: £11567.14
  • 0m 5f 1y
  • Class 4
  • 12 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet Handicap

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 818-53 CD

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Notoriously tricky to win with but there's no doubting his ability and he won the big sprint on this card back in 2022; close third over C&D on Sunday having found plenty of trouble; shouldn't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(4)

19th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

17:17 Musselburgh

Zarzyni

9st 9lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: David & Nicola Barron

towards rear, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead towards finish, ran on

4/1

OUR TIP

14/1

  • Place: £4.70

Form: 11394- D

Last run: 183 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Three 5f wins last year, one on Tapeta and the other two on testing ground at Hamilton; could prove vulnerable on a sounder surface back from six months off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(8)

19th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

17:17 Musselburgh

Moonstone Boy

9st 11lb

J: Mohammed Tabti

T: Iain Jardine

midfield, switched right when headway over 1f out, led inside final 110yds, headed towards finish

14/1

2nd

1

(8)

19th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

17:17 Musselburgh

Moonstone Boy

9st 11lb

J: Mohammed Tabti

T: Iain Jardine

midfield, switched right when headway over 1f out, led inside final 110yds, headed towards finish

14/1

4th

2

(6)

18th Oct 2024

Heavy

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:30 Haydock

Moonstone Boy

9st 11lb

J: Archie Young

T: Iain Jardine

Registered his turf wins at Hamilton (soft/heavy) in August and needs to prove he can transfer the form to this venue; well behind Trilby at York last week, albeit from difficult draw.

10/1

10/1

  • Place: £3.50

Form: 210-79 CD

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Won five times last year, including C&D, and although she has been unplaced in both runs this time around she was unable to show what she could do here on Sunday having run into several dead ends; capable if the gaps appear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

(10)

19th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

17:17 Musselburgh

Eternal Sunshine

9st 2lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

in touch with leaders, not clear run when headway over 1f out, went third final strides, kept on

10/1

3rd

7

(10)

19th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

17:17 Musselburgh

Eternal Sunshine

9st 2lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

in touch with leaders, not clear run when headway over 1f out, went third final strides, kept on

10/1

9th

9

(15)

13th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

16:45 Musselburgh

Eternal Sunshine

9st 2lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Five wins in lower classes, including C&D last summer; no impression here on reappearance but that was a Class 3 and she should be better for the run; another with claims.

7/1

Form: -64377 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 9st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Prominent racer who won twice on turf last September; in and out on AW this winter but he's slipped down the weights and the return of cheekpieces can help back on turf; should go well in a race in which the majority like to come from off the pace.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(7)

26th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

19:30 Doncaster

Our Absent Friends

9st 9lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Tristan Davidson

Prominent racer who won twice over this trip last September; back to form when close fourth of 12 at Musselburgh last Saturday; should be in the thick of things again.

7/1

4th

1

(7)

26th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

19:30 Doncaster

Our Absent Friends

9st 9lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Tristan Davidson

Prominent racer who won twice over this trip last September; back to form when close fourth of 12 at Musselburgh last Saturday; should be in the thick of things again.

7/1

4th

8

(6)

19th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

17:17 Musselburgh

Our Absent Friends

9st 1lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Tristan Davidson

pressed leader, led over 1f out, headed inside final 110yds, lost two places towards finish

14/1

Form: 337-82 D

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Picked off late by Only Spoofing over C&D on Sunday; 4lb better off for a short head today but he's not so well drawn this time; others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

(3)

19th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

17:17 Musselburgh

Knicks

9st 1lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

prominent, pressed leader over 1f out, no extra inside final 110yds

9/2

14/1

Form: 292864 D

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Another in the field who needs things to fall just right but he made a pleasing return to turf over C&D on Sunday, meeting a bit of traffic when initially launching his challenge and also caught towards the middle of the track; capable off this mark if the gaps appear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(4)

12th May 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 212y

Class 5

16:47 Catterick

Water Of Leith

9st 9lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Higher in the weights than when winning his most recent 6f start, at Carlisle (good) in August, but he's been running well off a similar mark to today's over 5f at Musselburgh recently; can be on the premises.

8/1

1st

1

(4)

12th May 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 212y

Class 5

16:47 Catterick

Water Of Leith

9st 9lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Higher in the weights than when winning his most recent 6f start, at Carlisle (good) in August, but he's been running well off a similar mark to today's over 5f at Musselburgh recently; can be on the premises.

8/1

6th

6

(11)

19th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

17:17 Musselburgh

Water Of Leith

9st 2lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

taken down early, held up in rear, headway inside final furlong, not pace to challenge

14/1

6/1

Form: 63147- CD

Last run: 189 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
C&D win on his 2yo debut; ended losing run when scrambling home at Chester last August (blinkered first time); has the rail draw and can go well fresh, so not discounted with Oisin Murphy a positive booking.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(12)

8th May 2025

Good

0m 5f 15y

Class 2

13:30 Chester

Balon DOr

8st 5lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Hugo Palmer

dwelt start, in rear, some headway inside final furlong, no impression

20/1

8th

9

(12)

8th May 2025

Good

0m 5f 15y

Class 2

13:30 Chester

Balon DOr

8st 5lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Hugo Palmer

dwelt start, in rear, some headway inside final furlong, no impression

20/1

7th

2

(12)

19th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

17:17 Musselburgh

Balon DOr

9st 10lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Hugo Palmer

mounted in chute and taken down early

6/1

16/1

Form: 4200-8 D

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Veteran who hasn't won as often as he should for one of his undoubted ability; on a reduced mark now and last Sunday's run, his first for 173 days, should have freshened him up; others look stronger for the win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

(1)

17th May 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:30 Thirsk

Arecibo

8st 7lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Declan Carroll

Veteran who was a smart sprinter in his prime but last win was four years ago and he's finished down the field in three runs this season; dropped another 3lb but he has lots to prove on this first run at 7f; visor removed.

25/1

6th

11

(1)

17th May 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:30 Thirsk

Arecibo

8st 7lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Declan Carroll

Veteran who was a smart sprinter in his prime but last win was four years ago and he's finished down the field in three runs this season; dropped another 3lb but he has lots to prove on this first run at 7f; visor removed.

25/1

6th

6

(5)

30th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 3y

Class 4

14:57 Pontefract

Arecibo

9st 7lb

J: Zak Wheatley

T: Declan Carroll

Veteran who has bundles of ability but is without a win since May 2021; yet to find his best this year and others appeal more for win purposes.

14/1

Form: 50-931 CD

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 1lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Well into the veteran stage but he retains lots of enthusiasm and he enhanced his fine C&D record when beating six of today's rivals to win last Sunday; picked up impressively once seeing daylight and can confirm his superiority despite the revised weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

(8)

17th May 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

15:15 Navan

Only Spoofing

8st 8lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: Kevin Thomas Coleman

Veteran of 96 races with 14 wins; not as good as when at his best but still capable of decent form; won at Musselburgh last month but not as good there six days later; could bounce back.

7/1

10

(8)

17th May 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

15:15 Navan

Only Spoofing

8st 8lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: Kevin Thomas Coleman

Veteran of 96 races with 14 wins; not as good as when at his best but still capable of decent form; won at Musselburgh last month but not as good there six days later; could bounce back.

7/1

9th

10

(7)

19th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

17:17 Musselburgh

Only Spoofing

9st 1lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Kevin Thomas Coleman

Well into the veteran stage but he retains lots of enthusiasm and he enhanced his fine C&D record when beating six of today's rivals to win last Sunday; picked up impressively once seeing daylight and can confirm his superiority despite the revised weights.

4/1

Form: 1414-8 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
C&D win off 3lb lower last summer; shaped as though the run was needed when last of eight here 17 days ago; better than that and could leave it well behind; stable also runs Zarzyni.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

(9)

19th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

17:17 Musselburgh

Profitable Edge

9st 9lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: David & Nicola Barron

C&D win off 3lb lower last summer; shaped as though the run was needed when last of eight here 17 days ago; better than that and could leave it well behind; stable also runs Zarzyni.

9/1

10th

5

(9)

19th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

17:17 Musselburgh

Profitable Edge

9st 9lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: David & Nicola Barron

C&D win off 3lb lower last summer; shaped as though the run was needed when last of eight here 17 days ago; better than that and could leave it well behind; stable also runs Zarzyni.

9/1

8th

5

(2)

2nd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 1y

Class 3

15:37 Musselburgh

Profitable Edge

8st 12lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: David & Nicola Barron

One of her two wins last year came over C&D; absent since finishing fourth at York's Dante meeting; doesn't look handicapped out of things and she has run on her seasonal return in both years since joining the Barrons; contender.

6/1

11th
12 (1)
Classy Al

33/1

Form: 9705-0 D

Last run: 6 days

W: 8st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on Sunday's seasonal return and, as on that occasion, she's not fared well with the draw; stable has stronger claims elsewhere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

(1)

19th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

17:17 Musselburgh

Classy Al

8st 12lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Jim Goldie

Well beaten on Sunday's seasonal return and, as on that occasion, she's not fared well with the draw; stable has stronger claims elsewhere.

33/1

11th

12

(1)

19th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

17:17 Musselburgh

Classy Al

8st 12lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Jim Goldie

Well beaten on Sunday's seasonal return and, as on that occasion, she's not fared well with the draw; stable has stronger claims elsewhere.

33/1

13th

13

(2)

13th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

16:45 Musselburgh

Classy Al

8st 12lb

J: David Egan

T: Jim Goldie

Not straightforward and finished unplaced in C&D Class 5 when last seen in October; however, third in this race on last season's reappearance.

14/1

12th
11 (2)
Zaphea

20/1

Form: 98501- CD

Last run: 164 days

W: 8st 13lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Won four 5f handicaps last year, two of them over C&D; 2lb rise for her last-gasp win here in November pushes her into a higher grade; not ideally drawn and others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

(6)

2nd May 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

14:10 Musselburgh

Zaphea

8st 8lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

held up in rear, always behind

20/1

9

(6)

2nd May 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

14:10 Musselburgh

Zaphea

8st 8lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Four wins in a productive 2024 campaign, two of them over C&D; 80-1 and finished last of 12 on her return to action here 13 days ago; needs to leave that well behind her.

20/1

12th

11

(2)

19th Apr 2025

Good

0m 5f 1y

Class 4

17:17 Musselburgh

Zaphea

8st 13lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Won four 5f handicaps last year, two of them over C&D; 2lb rise for her last-gasp win here in November pushes her into a higher grade; not ideally drawn and others appeal more.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £68.70
Straight Forecast £46.97
Tricast £471.36
Trifecta £940.40

Selections

Telegraph:

Knicks

POSTDATA:

Only Spoofing

RP RATINGS:

Zarzyni

The Star:

Eternal Sunshine

The Times:

Balon d'Or

The Guardian:

Moonstone Boy

SPOTLIGHT:

Our Absent Friends

TOPSPEED:

Arecibo

Daily Mirror:

Knicks

Daily Record:

Knicks

Daily Mail:

Zarzyni

D Express:

Only Spoofing

The Sun:

Only Spoofing