April 04 / 14.30 Musselburgh

14.30

Good

Virgin Bet Goliath Cup Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £45368
  • 1m 5f 216y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
View Course
Virgin Bet Goliath Cup Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

4/5 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 14313- D

Last run: 168 days

W: 9st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who keeps pulling out more, with 12 wins; the four last season (April-October) included career-best form; unraced here; has never won first time out but he has run creditably and is the clear form pick.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(5)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Al Qareem

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Uncharacteristically below par when well beaten at Chester last month and the track wasn't an excuse; four Group 3/Listed wins last year, including when making all in this under a 5lb penalty (same today), and he reappeared with a Listed win at Musselburgh in April; leading claims if back on song.

2/1

5th

2

(8)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:05 Chester

Al Qareem

9st 5lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Justified favouritism in Listed grade at Musselburgh (1m6f, soft) on seasonal debut, making it five wins from his last nine starts and taking overall record to 13-36; Chester record reads 112, most recently running creditably in this race 12 months ago; again likely to give his running.

9/1

1st

1

(5)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Al Qareem

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Front-runner who keeps pulling out more, with 12 wins; the four last season (April-October) included career-best form; unraced here; has never won first time out but he has run creditably and is the clear form pick.

4/5

4/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 51924-

Last run: 161 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Had a very solid campaign last season bar one blip (front-running was blamed); all but one of those races was at 1m4f, with a creditable fifth of six thrown in over the extended 1m5f at Chester in May (Group 3) but there is a bit for him to prove on this first foray over 1m6f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(3)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:55 York

Mount Atlas

9st 0lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

5yo who is an improved performer this season and registered career-best form when a close third in C&D Listed race last time, a neck behind Tabletalk; should be bang there once again.

13/8

3rd

4

(6)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Mount Atlas

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Andrew Balding

5yo who has been an improved performer on his two starts this season, going close behind Al Qareem at Musselburgh (1m6f, soft; Listed, same terms today) then runner-up in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester (13.3f, good) in which Al Qareem flopped; he's firmly in calculations.

3/1

2nd

6

(7)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:05 Chester

Mount Atlas

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Close second in Listed events at Chester (12.5f) last September and Musselburgh (1m6f) on reappearance, latter behind Al Qareem who gave 5lb and is now better off; further behind that opponent when fifth of six in this race last year; needs a personal best.

25/1

33/1

Form: 504-62 BF

Last run: 31 days

W: 8st 11lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Dual Wolverhampton AW winner (8.5f/1m4f) for Michael Bell, a hurdles winner in October and back on the Flat with two good AW runs (1m2f/1m3f handicaps) this year; has a bit more to prove as turf performer on the Flat and also over this new trip, with a big step forward required at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

5

(10)

8th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

16:10 Chester

Kate ORiley

9st 9lb

J: Luke Morris

T: James Owen

Dual Wolverhampton AW winner (8.5f/1m4f) for Michael Bell, a hurdles winner in October and back on the Flat with three good runs this year, when facing a very stiff task in Listed race on latest; unraced beyond that 1m6f on Flat but she's half-sister to a staying celebrity in Big Orange, which heightens interest.

15/2

3rd

5

(2)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Kate ORiley

8st 11lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: James Owen

Dual Wolverhampton AW winner (8.5f/1m4f) for Michael Bell, a hurdles winner in October and back on the Flat with two good AW runs (1m2f/1m3f handicaps) this year; has a bit more to prove as turf performer on the Flat and also over this new trip, with a big step forward required at this level.

33/1

2nd

1

(5)

4th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 4

17:07 Southwell (AW)

Kate ORiley

9st 9lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: James Owen

Dual Wolverhampton winner (8.5f/1m4f) for Michael Bell and won over hurdles at Ludlow (2m, good to firm) in October on her second start for this yard; caught the eye with a strong-finishing sixth of 12 at Lingfield (1m2f, AW) 22 days ago and will be suited by this extra furlong.

2/1

7/1

Form: 18124-

Last run: 183 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Excellent progress included three handicap wins (1m2f, 1m6f and 2m) last March-July and an agonisingly close call in the Melrose at York in August; close fourth in 1m6f Listed race at Ascot on final outing; better still is required but his record of improvement demands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(5)

3rd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:55 Newmarket

Many Men

9st 6lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: Jim Boyle

Excellent progress last term included three handicap wins (1m2f, 1m6f and 2m) in March-July and an agonisingly close call in the Melrose at York in August; close fourth in 1m6f Listed race at Ascot on final outing; well below that form on 2026 reappearance but that may have put him right.

6/1

4th

2

(6)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Many Men

9st 2lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: Jim Boyle

Excellent progress included three handicap wins (1m2f, 1m6f and 2m) last March-July and an agonisingly close call in the Melrose at York in August; close fourth in 1m6f Listed race at Ascot on final outing; better still is required but his record of improvement demands respect.

7/1

5

(2)

3rd Oct 2025

Good

1m 6f 34y

Class 1

16:05 Ascot

Many Men

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Jim Boyle

Progressing well, including three handicap wins (1m2f, 1m6f and 2m) this season and he went agonisingly close in the 1m6f Melrose at York on latest outing; all 2025 races have been on good or firmer but he won on soft as 2yo; respected for that improvement but plenty more is needed at this level.

6/1

12/1

Form: 11772- BF

Last run: 185 days

W: 8st 11lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Maiden and front-running handicap winner last spring, who found her one Group and two Listed assignments much harder afterwards but those were her best form; all those were at about 1m4f but her second from off the pace at Toulouse on final outing gave hope for this longer trip; improvement needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(2)

3rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Lady Vivian

8st 11lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

4yo filly whose two wins came last spring in a Southwell maiden (1m4f, AW) and Chester handicap (1m4f, good); struggled on soft ground in a 1m6f Listed race at Musselburgh this April and although she ran well when Listed fourth over 1m3f at Baden-Baden (good to soft) four weeks ago, she faded and didn't look to be crying out for this far; has a bit to find.

14/1

5th

6

(3)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Lady Vivian

8st 11lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Maiden and front-running handicap winner last spring, who found her one Group and two Listed assignments much harder afterwards but those were her best form; all those were at about 1m4f but her second from off the pace at Toulouse on final outing gave hope for this longer trip; improvement needed.

12/1

9

(5)

21st Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 188y

Class 1

16:10 York

Lady Vivian

9st 0lb

J: James Doyle

T: Ralph Beckett

Had 1m4f wins in the spring in a maiden at Southwell (AW) and handicap at Chester (good); 11-1 for Group 2 Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to firm) two months ago, racing a bit freely and never threatening in seventh of 11 but that is her best form; might still be able to build on that.

8/1

Form: 403-22 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
A poor show last May prompted a second wind operation and it was a solid campaign otherwise; never better than when second this February in 2m AW handicaps at Wolverhampton and Lingfield, but peak turf form isn't far behind it and he'll probably be on the premises.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(10)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Newmarket (July)

Roaring Legend

9st 12lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Olly Murphy

Fourth in this race last year off the same mark; fine efforts when runner-up in February on first two starts (2m, AW) since rejoining this yard, but reportedly made a respiratory noise next time and, following his third wind operation, he was a soundly beaten outsider in Listed race four weeks ago; others seem more solid.

40/1

5th

5

(4)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Roaring Legend

9st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Olly Murphy

Fine efforts when runner-up in 2m AW handicaps in February on first two starts since rejoining this yard; reportedly made a respiratory noise at Musselburgh in April and he's had a third wind operation since; however, even if returning to form, a career-best if needed from this 6yo today.

25/1

6th

4

(4)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Roaring Legend

9st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Olly Murphy

A poor show last May prompted a second wind operation and it was a solid campaign otherwise; never better than when second this February in 2m AW handicaps at Wolverhampton and Lingfield, but peak turf form isn't far behind it and he'll probably be on the premises.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.30
Straight Forecast £3.80
Trifecta £33.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Al Qareem

POSTDATA:

Roaring Legend

Daily Mail:

Lady Vivian

NEWMARKET:

Kate O'Riley

Daily Record:

Roaring Legend

RP RATINGS:

Al Qareem

TOPSPEED:

Al Qareem

The Times:

Al Qareem

Telegraph:

Al Qareem

The Guardian:

Al Qareem

D Express:

Al Qareem

Daily Mirror:

Al Qareem

The Sun:

Al Qareem

The Star:

Al Qareem