Sky Bet Sunday Series: Musselburgh tips

The Sky Bet Sunday Series’ £100,000 bonus - which goes to connections of any horse that can win three times across this year’s five fixtures - went down to the wire in 2023, with Derry Lad (third) and Blow Your Horn (sixth) just unable to add a third success. However, that changed the following season, as Letsbefrank picked up the £100,000 bonus, while Spring Is Sprung followed in his footsteps last year. 

Jockeys and their agents will no doubt again be targeting the Jockeys’ Cup and a £25,000 first prize for the jockey who picks up most points across the Series, with £5,000 on offer for second, and £3,000 for third. Meanwhile, stable staff will have the opportunity to win cash prizes, with a total of £15,000 to be paid out to the stable staff of the first three trainers. 

This year’s series begins at Musselburgh on Sunday, and gets underway at 3.45 with the Sky Bet Club British EBF Novice Stakes which features Adonius, a very impressive debut winner over C&D. A barrier trial meant he was more switched on than his rivals that day, but, despite his 5lb penalty, he’s hard to oppose here. Rlasthorpe shaped very well in the Brocklesby, meeting trouble late on, and is the obvious danger, for all that Ponte Carlo’s dam was a 10/1 winner on debut. 

The Enter ITV7 For Free Handicap (4.15) can go the way of Suddenly I See who shaped as if his longer trip would suit when winning here last September. He has a slightly better draw than stablemate Just A Gambler and Thestral who look his main rivals for the lead, which is often the place to be here over a mile. 

Bellarchi is a big player once more in the Sky Bet Build A Bet Fillies' Handicap(4.45), but the course specialist may now be reaching the limits in terms of her handicap mark, a comment that doesn't apply to a few of the unexposed three-year-olds in opposition. Applesandpears only cost 1,200 guineas but looked an exciting prospect when winning twice in the autumn and she could be better than her mark of 84. From her good draw she’s narrowly preferred to Rockfel also-rans Samra Green and Ice Sovereigns. 

Dwindling Funds really hit his straps last year, but his progress came in the second half of the season, and he’s passed over in the Sky Bet For The Fans Holyrood Handicap (5.15) in favour of Thunder Wonder who is unbeaten here, has match-fitness on his side and is 7lb below his last win. His similarly well-treated stablemate Sir Paul Ramsey rates a danger, along with Sea Force (William Haggas’ only runner on the card) and the Ed Bethell pair of Noche Clasica and James McHenry. 

The 2024 hero Letsbefrank was among the five-day entries for the Sky Bet Extra Places Handicap (17:45) but doesn’t take his chance in a very competitive contest. Northwest Passage made great progress in the mud last year but looks high enough in the weights on his first start for Ivan Furtado, a comment that doesn’t apply to Ludo’s Landing despite his recent Newcastle success. He’s still 2lb below his highest winning mark and he’s fancied to pick up front-runners Velvet Whisper, Fast Fred and L’Eagle Aid late in the piece. 

Sea Suite is unexposed at this trip and looks a big player for James Owen (4/12 at the track, +49.88 level stakes profit) in the Sky Bet Proud To Support Young Lives Vs Cancer Handicap(6.15), but he’s likely to be short enough and it might pay to take a chance on Kelpie Grey. The Jim Goldie-trained six-year-old has a good record fresh, including a reappearance win here in 2024 which sparked a hat-trick of wins. The last of those came off a mark of 78, and, following a modest end to last season, he is now down to 71. That looks too tempting to pass up. 

Finally, the closing Sky Bet Price Boosts Handicap (6.45) has a strong rollcall of winners including American Affair who won two races in this series before going on to land the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes last term. It’s hard to see any of these 17 runners following in those footsteps, but Right And Exact is unexposed, won first time out last season, and could be well-treated on a mark of 79 considering his Southwell conqueror Rapper’s Delight (who he was giving 7lb to) went close in Meydan in February off 88.