Scottish Sprint Cup Preview: Bow primed to hit the target for Easterby

This Saturday sees Musselburgh stage their most valuable race of the season – the William Hill Scottish Sprint Cup – which has been a welcome addition to the fixture list, and has been well supported since its inception in 2013. Given the prize money on offer, it’s hardly surprising that it has attracted a maximum field of 17 each year and, with a total of 42 entries at the five-day stage, it seems likely a full field will line-up for this year’s renewal, too.

As is often the case with top-end sprint handicappers, the main contenders meet on multiple occasions throughout the season, and plenty who contested the Epsom Dash two weeks ago are likely to take their chance here.

The eight-year-old Caspian Prince returned to his best form to notch an amazing third win in the ‘Dash’ earlier this month by a short head from Dark Shot. The five-furlong course at Epsom is arguably the fastest in the country, and its speed-favouring nature clearly brings out the very best in him. Although he has won over this C&D before, that win came in a small-field minor event, and both his attempts in this race have been a little disappointing, finding it hard to dictate a big field on both occasions on this more conventional track. He will carry top weight if taking his chance on Saturday, which will demand a career best, and he has a bit to find.

Current favourite for the race is Edward Lewis, who was beaten just under a length in fifth to Caspian Prince at Epsom, and was arguably unlucky not to finish closer. Held up in the rear, he always travelled fluently, but patient tactics are often risky over five furlongs at Epsom and ultimately he didn’t get a clear run until it was too late. There’s no doubt Edward Lewis has improved since joining David O’Meara this season, and raised just 1 lb since Epsom, he still looks fairly treated. However, he will need an element of luck in-running if hold-up tactics are employed here again.

Another hold-up performer, Duke of Firenze, is arguably in the form of his life at present, winning a handicap at York for the second year running before producing a career best to finish a close third to Caspian Prince last time. Like Caspian Prince, he also has a good record at Epsom (won the ‘Dash’ in 2013 and third in 2016), and he got a clearer run through than Edward Lewis, so had less of a hard luck story. Nevertheless, he finished a good third in this race last year after running respectably at Epsom beforehand and, though he has never been higher in the weights than he is at present, he remains a sprinter to be interested in. A Momentofmadness separated Edward Lewis and Duke of Firenze in fourth, and it wasn’t a surprise that the speed test suited him given how quick he is. He has been beaten twice already from this sort of mark, however, which makes him vulnerable for win purposes.

Others set to take their chance from Epsom include seventh-placed Desert Law, who won a minor event over the Sprint Cup trip on his reappearance. He still looks well handicapped on the pick of his form, and needs considering given he wasn’t beaten far in fifth in this race last year. El Astronaute had every chance at Epsom, but left the impression that a 4 lb rise for his Chester success made the difference in the end, and he seems to be in the handicapper’s grasp now. Line of Reason finished further back in ninth, but is actually in better nick than his recent form figures suggest, though he is seemingly hard to win with nowadays, whilst Kimberella had few excuses under a good-value claimer having found a good pitch behind the leaders.

A few of the fresher candidates represent Tim Easterby, who seemingly likes to target this race, having had at least two runners since it was first run and, though he is yet to taste success, he has had some well-fancied runners go well, including Body And Soul, who was sent off favourite and finished fourth in 2014. This year he has a couple who are guaranteed a run in Orion’s Bow and East Street Revue, though Rasheeq will hold leading claims if getting a run. As things stand, he will need a few to come out, but he caught the eye at York last time finishing well from an unfavourable position, and may well have missed the ‘Dash’ in favour of this.

However, it is Orion’s Bow who is particularly interesting on just his third start for the yard. He was an ultra-progressive handicapper for the late Dandy Nicholls last season, landing a five-timer in the Scottish Stewards’ Cup at Hamilton before finishing an excellent second in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood off just a 1 lb higher mark. He has been relatively easy to back on both starts for Easterby so far this season, but he has shaped well all the same, just doing too much too soon in a minor event at Haydock last time. Still only a six-year-old, he has the scope to do better still this season, and is likely being brought to the boil with a big pot in mind.  

Recommended bet:

Orion's Bow  to win the Scottish Sprint Cup at Musselburgh on Saturday at 16/1