17:17 Musselburgh

Saturday 19 April 2025

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

Virgin Bet Handicap

Off time: 17:19 | Winning time: 59.67s

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(8)

Moonstone Boy^b¹⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Mohammed Tabti⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 80| D

12/1

Three wins from 14 runs last year. 10/1, made some late gains when fourth of 8 in handicap at Haydock (5f, heavy) when last seen 6 months ago. Ran well on return last year and could repeat the trick here with a new 5-lb claimer taking over in the saddle.

Form: 711394-

(12)

Balon D'or^b,t¹⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H Palmer| OR: 79| CD

15/2

C&D winner on debut in 2023. 18/1, wasn't seen to best effect taken on for the lead when seventh of 9 in handicap at Chelmsford (6f) when last seen 6 months ago, doing too much too soon.

Form: 263147-

(4)

Zarzyni^p⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Connor Beasley| T: T D Barron| OR: 78| CD

7/2

C&D winner in September. Unlucky not to win when ¾-length third of 14 to Only Spoofing in handicap (9/2) at this C&D (good) 6 days ago, running on late after not clear run from 2f out. Needs things to drop right but holds leading claims granted a smoother passage.

Form: 7818-53

(5)

Arecibo^t⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 9-9| J: Zak Wheatley⁽³⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 78| D

12/1

Unreliable sort who finished last season on a low note but probably needed his return from 6 months off when 5¼ lengths eighth of 14 to Only Spoofing in handicap (11/1) at this C&D (good) 6 days ago. Tongue tie retained and this should reveal more.

Form: 34200-8

(9)

Profitable Edge¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: T D Barron| OR: 78| CD

11/1

C&D winner. Two wins from 4 runs last year. 17/2, shaped as if needing the run after 7 months off when last of 8 in handicap at this C&D (good) 17 days ago.

Form: 4/1414-8

(11)

Water Of Leith⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Amie Waugh⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 71| D

20/1

Wasn't seen to best effect when 3½ lengths fourth of 14 to Only Spoofing in handicap at this C&D (good, 14/1) 6 days ago, ending up having to challenge wider than ideal from his low draw.

Form: 292864

(10)

Eternal Sunshine⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 71| CD

12/1

C&D winner. Five wins from 10 runs last year. Run best excused when 5¼ lengths ninth of 14 to Only Spoofing in handicap at this C&D (good, 13/2) 6 days ago, getting little room to open up and looked after when it was clear she couldn't get seriously involved. Not dismissed.

Form: 1210-79

(6)

Our Absent Friends^p³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: C Lee| T: T Davidson| OR: 70| D

13/2

Ran poorly when seventh of 8 in handicap at Newcastle (5f, 15/2) 37 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Bounce back required.

Form: 3-64377

(3)

Knicks^t⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 70| D

6/1

15/2, stepped up on reappearance when short-head second of 14 to Only Spoofing in handicap at this C&D (good) 6 days ago, headed dying strides. Can make presence felt.

Form: 0337-82

(7)

Only Spoofing⁶^{(ex 4)}

Age: 11| Weight: 9-1| J: S A Gray| T: Kevin Coleman| OR: 66| CD

9/2

4-time C&D winner. Finally took advantage of a tumbling mark having been well backed in 14-runner handicap at this C&D (good, 4/1) 6 days ago by short head from Knicks, leading dying strides. Obvious claims carrying a penalty.

Form: 850-931

(2)

Zaphea¹⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 68| CD

80/1

3-time C&D winner. Boasts a decent strike rate for all her foibles and notched her third win of 2024 in 9-runner handicap (33/1) at this C&D (good to soft) in November. Just as likely to run poorly on reappearance, however.

Form: 098501-

(1)

Classy Al^p⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Rhys Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 67| D

33/1

Tricky customer. Shaped as if needing the run when 9¾ lengths thirteenth of 14 to Only Spoofing in handicap (20/1) at this C&D (good) 6 days ago, doing too much too soon. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 39705-0

Forecasts

Zarzyni (7/2), Only Spoofing (9/2), Knicks (6/1), Our Absent Friends (13/2), Balon D'or (15/2), Profitable Edge (11/1), Moonstone Boy (12/1), Eternal Sunshine (12/1), Arecibo (12/1), Water Of Leith (20/1), Classy Al (33/1), Zaphea (80/1)

A wide-open sprint to end the card but the suggestion is ZARZYNI, who looked unlucky not to win when finishing hot on the heels of the reopposing Only Spoofing and Knicks over C&D last Sunday. That pair are expected to be in the mix again, with Eternal Sunshine and the reappearing Moonstone Boy another couple worthy of a mention, too.