Sky Bet Sunday Series tips: race-by-race guide at Musselburgh

There was a familiar face in the winners’ enclosure at Musselburgh on day one of the 2026 Sky Bet Sunday Series as Jim Goldie saddled Abduction and Montezuma to win the final two races on the card, and he gets the chance to do it all over again on Sunday as – due to irrigation issues at Ayr – the series returns to East Lothian for week two. 

So, what did we learn? 

Six of the seven winners were either on the front end or ridden positively, with only Kaiya Fraser on Abduction able to strike from off the pace. The cast of winning trainers was very similar to several meetings during last year’s series, too. 

Goldie could be on the mark again in the Sky Bet Proud To Support Young Lives Vs Cancer Apprentice Handicap that gets the card underway at 3.45. There may be several horses whose connections are annoyed that this meeting isn’t at Ayr, including Dwindling Funds who has five wins at the west coast venue to his name, but he has also run well here including when second to Noche Clasica a fortnight ago. This is a drop in grade, and he’s preferred to Newcastle runner-up Harry The Rogue. 

Despite showing clear signs of greenness once getting daylight, Super Alpha caught the eye behind Adonius on debut, and he gets the nod in the Enter ITV7 For Free EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes (4.15). His siblings have tended to win second-time-out, and this quicker ground should suit (as it did his sister Juliet Sierra). Seed Ya Later caught the eye after a tardy start when a close second at Bath, while Donna Rumma shaped with promise behind Royal Ascot contender Princess d’Orange on debut. The well-touted Tamam Star is the clear pick of the newcomers. 

Epidavros ran well when fourth behind Bellarchi here last time, but her style of racing could make life tough once more in the Sky Bet Club Fillies' Handicap (4.45). Glorious Kitty is of interest on several pieces of form, most notably her second to Moonjid last term, but her record of 0/12 is off-putting. Similarly, Krissy’s record on turf (has shaped as if amiss) means she can be passed over in favour of the well-treated Sovereign Bright who is open to plenty of improvement now returned to quick ground. Lady Dora Mae only had one start on turf for Fozzy Stack and is respected with this longer trip/drop in grade in her favour. 

Former Sky Bet Sunday Series bonus winner Letsbefrank looks well-treated ahead of his return in the Sky Bet For The Fans Handicap (5.15) but I’m not sure he’s quite quick enough for this test, in contrast to Rising Sky who won well at Dundalk last time. Week one winner Fast Fred runs in this in preference to the two-mile handicap and, for all he isn’t the quickest, that looks a strong clue in itself. Hamlet’s Night translated his good hurdling form to the Flat at Kempton in February and, along with top-weight Night Breeze, looks the chief threat. 

Like Dwindling Funds in the opener, Little Empire may have preferred to be at Ayr, but the Anthony McCann-trained six-year-old has a habit of popping up with turf wins at this time of year. He was run off his feet over too short a trip at Lingfield when last seen but should be ridden more prominently in the Sky Bet Price Boosts Handicap (5.45). Persuasion plugged on well despite being keen enough over C&D last time and, with the respected pair of Master Richard and Benacre likely to set a strong gallop, he rates a danger from his reduced mark. Goldie, meanwhile, will be bonus-hunting once more with week one winner Abduction who is respected following just a 2lb rise. 

Alther Walden looks well ahead of his mark in the Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap (6.15) and shapes like this trip – especially at a speed-favouring track – should be withing range, but preference at the prices is for Talismans Time who came to hand early last year and his final run last season wasn’t his true running. Of the proven stayers, Senor Cortez caught the eye in defeat behind St Faz last month and shouldn’t be discounted. 

Finally, the Sky Bet Extra Places Handicap rounds off the card at 6.45 with top-weight Ziggy’s Triton, a speedy type who is back down to a workable mark, fancied to build on an eye-catching run on unsuitably soft ground here last time. Of his rivals, the aforementioned Goldie could have his eyes on the bonus once more with impressive week one winner Montezuma, so despite a 7 lb rise the former Godolphin inmate looks a big player once more, along with I’m Next who landed a punt at Beverley on Thursday.