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15:15 Musselburgh

Bentley Edinburgh Grand Cup Stakes (listed) (Class 1)

  • 5 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 6f
  • Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
  • Surface: Turf
  • £28,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 3m 1.62s
  • Off Time: 15:15:49
  • 5 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Balkan Knight

6/4

    2
    Silk -

    Alfie Flits

    Evs

      1(5)
      Silk - Red, Yellow hoop, hooped sleeves, White cap

      Alfie Flits

      8
      Evs
      • Form 1301-05
      • Age 5
      • Weight 9-3
      • Official Rating 112

      tracked leader, ridden and led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, just failed

      2(3)
      Silk - Emerald Green, Yellow Cross of Lorraine, Yellow cap

      Acropolis (IRE)

      22
      20/1
      • Form 45/70-53
      • Age 6
      • Weight 9-0
      • Official Rating 94

      towards rear, ridden over 3f out, no impression

      3(2)
      Silk - Grey, Pink epaulets, quartered cap

      Balkan Knight

      11 D
      6/4
      • Form 0293-32
      • Age 7
      • Weight 9-0
      • Official Rating 108

      behind, ridden over 3f out, headway to challenge entering final furlong, soon led, all out

      4(1)
      Silk - White, Black sleeves, White stars, Black cap, White star

      Golden Quest

      291 D
      7/1
      • Form 2212/06-
      • Age 6
      • Weight 9-0
      • Official Rating 106

      towards rear, smooth headway to dispute lead over 5f out, led over 3f out, soon ridden, headed over 2f out, gradually weakened

      5(4)
      Silk - Yellow, Red Cross of Lorraine, Red sleeves, Yellow armlets, Emerald Green cap

      Hovering (IRE)

      34
      40/1
      • Form 399-464
      • Age 4
      • Weight 8-9
      • Official Rating 91

      led, soon clear, effort over 5f out, ridden over 4f out, headed over 3f out, soon weakened

      In depth

      Verdict

      The weights favour Alfie Flits who gets the call over Balkan Knight and Acropolis in this Listed contest. Alan Swinbank saddled Ouninpohja to finish runner-up in this race last year, and will be confident of going one better with Alfie Flits who stands out on the official ratings. Rated 114, he only has to concede 3lb to Balkan Kinight who resides on an official mark of 105, while Acropolis is only rated 94. The selection should also now be spot on after two outings this year, one in the Winter Derby at Lingfield, (his first taste of the all-weather), and the latest when a staying on fifth over 12-furlongs at Goodwood. He should have too much power for Balkan Knight who to be fair has been keeping good company this term. Acropolis is just not the horse he was for Aidan O'Brien, and has to be taken on, while Golden Quest lacks a recent run. Not that that is a major problem, as his trainer turns them out fit, but the conditions of the race vastly favour Alfie Flits who can gain a third Listed success today.

      Formwatch

      Alfie Flits 4-1 (9-3) In touch, not much room over 3f out, soon ridden, stayed on inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Ivy Creek (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 4f lst stk (1) gd.

      Acropolis (IRE) 16-1 (8-7) Held up in touch, headway 4f out to challenge leaders, soon ridden and kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Scriptwriter (8-10) at Hamilton 1m 4f lst hcp (1) gd in May.

      Balkan Knight 7-2 (9-2) Behind, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, hard ridden, headed, one pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Allegretto (9-0) at Sandown 2m Yorks Oaks (1) gs in May.

      Golden Quest 9-2 (9-1) In touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 11, 15l behind Sergeant Cecil (9-1) at York 2m Grp 2 (1) gs in Aug.

      Hovering (IRE) (8-11) In touch to 2f out, soon beaten, 4th of 7, 10l behind Montalegre (8-11) at San Siro 1m 7f lst stk hvy in May.