15:35 Musselburgh

Saturday 19 April 2025

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:17

Virgin Bet Queen's Cup (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 3m 3.89s

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Selected odds by:

(3)

Aimeric¹⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 107

15/2

Five wins from 17 Flat runs. 5/2, respectable 3¼ lengths second of 7 to Military Academy in listed race at Kempton (12f), no match for winner. Off 166 days and has no margin for error from this mark back on turf but he's in top hands.

Form: 224332-

(9)

Wise Eagle⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: D Tudhope| T: A Nicol| OR: 103| CD

7/1

Three-time C&D winner. Good second of 7 in handicap hurdle at Kelso (16.2f, soft, 11/8) 64 days ago. Useful on the Flat, excellent second on the AW in January but this trip could be on the sharp side.

Form: 30620-2

(5)

Kihavah^t⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: P J McDonald| T: A Keatley| OR: 101| C

7/1

Useful on the Flat and over hurdles, held back by a bad mistake when ninth of 12 at Ayr (16f, good to soft, 16/1) 7 days ago. Career best when winning on the level in September and fitness assured.

Form: 429021

(12)

Align The Stars¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 101| D

10/3

Very progressive in handicaps last summer, completing hat-trick at Goodwood in August. 5/1, ¾-length third of 4 to Al Qareem in listed race at Nottingham (14f, good) 10 days ago and another bold bid looks on the cards.

Form: 11188-3

(4)

Wild Waves^h²¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 100

4/1

Fitted with a hood and won first 2 handicap starts in May/June. Ran a racker when 7-lengths sixth of 7 to Jan Brueghel in St Leger at Doncaster (14.5f, good, 40/1) and returns with yard in fine form.

Form: 511046-

(6)

Chillingham^p,t¹⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: E Bethell| OR: 94

7/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2023. 7/1, bit below form fifteenth of 23 in handicap at Doncaster (11.9f, heavy). Off 161 days. Tongue strap back on. Merits consideration given he usually gives his running at this sort of level.

Form: 733020-

(10)

Intinso⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: William Pyle⁽⁵⁾| T: Craig Lidster| OR: 93

50/1

Sound-enough start for this stable on the AW this winter but didn't look straightforward when tenth of 11 in handicap at Southwell (12.1f, 28/1) 56 days ago.

Form: 3003-40

(13)

Laafy^p1²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 8-11| J: Billy Garritty| T: B Ellison| OR: 92| D

100/1

First run since leaving Sir Michael Stoute when thirteenth of 16 in handicap at Doncaster (10.2f, good, 40/1) 20 days ago. That was a return from almost 4 years off and this will reveal more significantly up in trip with cheekpieces on.

Form: 35487/0

(11)

Lieber Power²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: S A Gray| T: A M Balding| OR: 91

16/1

Won a brace of handicaps last summer. Ninth of 14 in handicap (22/1) at Kempton (11f) 21 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Up in trip and well handicapped if he can build on that.

Form: 21226-9

(2)

Emiyn¹⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Zak Wheatley⁽³⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 90| D

50/1

Third of 5 in minor event hurdle (2/1) at Wetherby (16f, good) 154 days ago, unsuited by drop in trip. Off 154 days and others boast more compelling claims back on the level.

Form: 0/02360-

(8)

Loughville¹⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: D Egan| T: A King| OR: 90

9/1

6¼ lengths seventh of 11 to Estrange in listed race (18/1) at Doncaster (10.2f, heavy). Won 3 handicaps prior to that but this is a deeper band of race.

Form: 333157-

(1)

La Pulga¹⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Jason Hart| T: C Johnston| OR: 90| D

33/1

Held his form well during a pretty busy 2024 campaign, very good second of 7 in handicap at Southwell (14.1f). Off 152 days.

Form: 316252-

(7)

Faylaq²⁰¹

Age: 9| Weight: 8-8| J: Amie Waugh⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 89

28/1

Proved more resolute than had often been the case last season, winning twice 9/2, bit below form fourth of 9 in handicap at Hamilton (9.2f, good to soft). Off 6 months.

Form: 621214-

(14)

Struth²³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: S De Sousa| T: C Johnston| OR: 87

16/1

Temperamental sort. Seventeen runs since last win in 2023. Fourth of 5 in handicap at Newmarket (14f, soft, 9/1). Off 7 months.

Form: 030474-

Forecasts

Align The Stars (10/3), Wild Waves (4/1), Kihavah (7/1), Wise Eagle (7/1), Chillingham (7/1), Aimeric (15/2), Loughville (9/1), Struth (16/1), Lieber Power (16/1), Faylaq (28/1), La Pulga (33/1), Emiyn (50/1), Intinso (50/1), Laafy (100/1)

ALIGN THE STARS was very progressive in handicaps last summer and on the evidence of a close-up third in listed company 10 days ago, he looks set for another fruitful campaign. Wild Waves was last seen contesting the St Leger and returns for a yard in brilliant form, so he's a major threat, with Kihavah completing the shortlist.