Musical Times blows apart May Hill Stakes field
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Thu 10 Sep 2026
Musical Times burst into the next year’s Classic picture with a wide-margin victory in the Betfred May Hill Stakes at Doncaster.
Winner of her first two races at Newmarket and Yarmouth, she had not done anything to suggest she was about to blow a Group Two field wide apart.
Travelling strongly in the hands of William Buick, the Charlie Appleby-trained 7-4 favourite shot clear over a furlong out and the race was over.
The daughter of Lope De Vega pulled a yawning seven and a half lengths clear clear of Scommessa Sicura, who was only a neck behind the winner on her debut, in second.
Appleby said: “Delighted. Coming into the race I wouldn’t say I was trying to sit on the fence, but she shows so much natural pace at home, I thought ‘I hope she stays’. She should stay on pedigree but everything at home has been very zippy and we saw that through the race today.
“She’s handled everything and the race was faultless, wasn’t it? There was a nice pace on, she travelled into it, travelled up to leaders well and most importantly she accelerated, which is what you always like to see.
“We’ll head to the Fillies’ Mile, which was always our pencil plan since Yarmouth really.”
Paddy Power initially cut Musical Times to 12-1 from 25s for next year’s 1000 Guineas, but that did not last long and neither did 8-1, with the firm eventually forced to make her their 6-1 favourite.
“She’s handled that slightly slower ground today but she’s a neat filly, so if it came up quick at Newmarket in the autumn or in the spring it wouldn’t worry me,” the trainer added.
“I don’t see why she shouldn’t be a Guineas filly. We won this a couple of years ago with Desert Flower, who went on to win the Guineas. Funnily enough I see this filly as more of a Guineas filly than Desert Flower, who was a big and scopey and unfortunately didn’t quite win the Oaks.”
Related posts
Dave Nevison's Thursday tips: best bets at Doncaster
Five horses to follow at Doncaster on Thursday
Your ultimate guide to the St Leger and forecast 1-2-3
The Data Detective: eight tips for the St Leger meeting
Irish Champions Festival tips: four best bets for Sunday's action
Todays top offer
Get 50% back up to £50 with QuinnBet
T&Cs Apply
18+ GambleAware. New UK Customers Only. Bet £10+ on any sportsbook markets at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. Get 50% back of your first day’s losses as a Free Bet up to £50, valid for 7 days.
Claim Now
Featured offers
Bet £10 Get £40 in free bets + Money back 2nd to SP fav with BOYLE Sports
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Boyle Sports: Bet £10 Get £40 in free bets + Money back 2nd to SP fav with BOYLE Sports
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with talkSPORT BET
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
TalkSportBet: Bet £10 get £30 in Horse Racing Free Bets
Bet £10 get £40 in free bets with Kwiff
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
New UK customers. Place a £10 real money bet at min. 2.0 odds within 5 days of deposit. Get 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 Single, 2 Accas & 1 Bet Builder (min. 3 selections each). Excludes cashout, E/W, Multis, Ineligible Markets & Odds Boosts. Credited after bet settlement. 7-day expiry. T&Cs apply. 18+ | GambleAware
Bet £20 and Get £40 in Free Bets with Unibet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Unibet: Bet £20 and Get £40 in Free Bets with Unibet
Copyright 2026 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
Please bet responsibly
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved