Horse racing tips: Carlisle, Chelmsford, Haydock, Kempton and Musselburgh – Steve Mullen’s betting preview for the racing this Saturday, March 31
Steve Mullen guides you through Saturday's racing at Carlisle, Chelmsford, Haydock, Kempton and Musselburgh.
STONE the bookies in Musselburgh’s 1.50.
SET IN STONE loves the Scottish track and picked up a good win there in September. That was over a mile but this drop back in distance won’t be an issue, particularly with a bit of give in the ground.
Rowan Scott's mount has a handy low draw today which is another bonus. She didn’t show her true form when ending the season in defeat but she’d had a lot of runs in a short space of time and met trouble in running for good measure.
Despite having a few miles on the clock, she’s still only four and the move to Adrian McGuinness could just conjure up a little improvement.
Masham Star went close in a Listed race at Wolverhampton last time and is a threat. He does have some decent form on turf but the pick of his form has come on the all-weather.
Twin Appeal is an obvious danger given that he won this race 12 months ago. He goes from a similar mark today and it would be no shock to see him go close.
ALPHA DELPHINI looks hard to beat in Musselburgh’s 2.25.
He finished last season by scoring over course and distance and won’t mind a bit of juice in the ground.
He has been good enough to hold his own at Group 1 level as he showed when finishing an excellent sixth in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot last year.
Much of that campaign was spent contesting top-level contests so he should be well up to this standard. Don’t be too worried about him coming back from a long break as he’s won first-up before.
If you’re looking for one at bigger odds, Kyllang Rock has a solid chance. He didn’t do a lot wrong last season and finished with a decent fourth in an Ascot Listed race.
His best effort came over today's trip at Glorious Goodwood when he ran well in the Group 2 King George Stakes. Musselburgh is pretty tricky course too so he should be suited to these conditions.
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AYUTTHAYA likes to go from the front and has the ideal draw to pull off those tactics in Musselburgh’s Royal Mile (3.00).
He caught the eye with two excellent efforts at novice level last term before getting off the mark in fine style at Chester — another course where being handy early is important.
That was over 7f in soft ground and this longer trip should be ideal as he matures. The handicapper has been pretty fair with an opening mark of 86 and he can make the most of it.
Indomeneo was busy as a two-year-old, landing four wins — including at Ripon and Leicester — on his final two starts of the campaign.
He’s already proven over a mile and will relish some cut underfoot. Provided his engine hasn’t been burned out as a juvenile, he should be on the premises.
Steve Mullen's top tips for Saturday
1.50 Musselburgh - Set In Stone: 'Loves the Scottish track and this drop back in distance won't be an issue'
2.25 Musselburgh - Alpha Delphini: 'Won't mind a bit of juice in the ground and looks the one to beat, having held his own at Group 1 level last year'
3.00 Musselburgh - Ayutthaya: 'Likes to go from the front and has the ideal draw for those tactics'
3.35 Musselburgh - Mixboy: 'Has no shortage of guts and staying power and can hit the frame in a wide-open contest'
MIXBOY can hit the frame in a wide-open Musselburgh Queen’s Cup (3.35).
Keith Dalgleish’s hopeful won on his last visit to the track — in a 2m chase — so has no shortage of guts and staying power.
He returned to the level on the all-weather at Southwell last week and performed with credit, finishing a length second over a similar trip. That should have blown the cobwebs away fitness-wise.
He doesn’t have many Flat miles on the clock for an eight-year-old but has two wins and a place from just five outings. Staying would appear to be his game and he could still be a few steps ahead of the handicapper.
Mount Tahan has been in cracking form on the sand with three victories and a second since Boxing Day. He has improved for stepping up in distance and wasn’t stopping over 1m4f last time out.
This will ask more questions of his stamina but he’s a horse in form and there could be more to come.
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HAYDOCK
2.05 Crievehill
2.40 Joke Dancer
3.15 Behind Time
3.50 The Delray Munky
4.25 Red Rising
5.00 Tara Mist
5.35 Talk Of The South
MUSSELBURGH
1.50 Set In Stone
2.25 Alpha Delphini
3.00 Ayutthaya
3.35 Mixboy
4.10 I Am A Dreamer
4.45 Tommy G
5.20 Queens Sargent
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KEMPTON
2.00 Tigre Du Terre
2.35 Fabricate
3.10 Qaysar
3.45 Inn The Bull
4.20 Fire Fighting
4.55 Tomily
5.30 Excellent George
CARLISLE
1.40 Going Gold
2.15 Elusive Theatre
2.50 Pixiepot
3.25 Bright Prospect
4.00 Luckime
4.35 Smugglers Stash
5.10 Derriana Spirit
CHELMSFORD
5.45 Malaysian Boleh
6.15 Communique
6.45 Leoro
7.15 Samovar
7.45 George Of Hearts
8.15 Make Magic
8.45 Billyoakes