Soph Worth A Lil Each Way Interest At Musselburgh

Fenagh was bitterly disappointing for us yesterday, never travelling throughout the race and looking a very awkward ride at times. Harry Bentley just couldn’t get her going and she never got into it. I remain convinced this tricky filly has ability on the evidence of her second maiden run and she is not one to lose faith in just yet. She is likely to be dropped another few pounds after yesterday’s run and she could be one to be on when the money comes.

 

Lil Sophella has a fine record at Musselburgh.

This evening I am backing one up at Musselburgh and I think Lil Sophella in the 6.05 looks handicapped to go well for Pat Holmes with Jack Garrity back in the plate. This 8yo daughter of Indian Haven didn’t put her best hoof forward when 4th here last time behind Masarzain, but she was slowly away and she was left with far too much to do by Neil Farley. She is now 11lb better off with the winner and that should allow her to get a lot closer.

She ran a lovely race on her penultimate start at Thirsk, the last time Garrity rode, when staying on strongly for 4th off a mark of 69, beaten just over 2L and she is 2lb lower here off a mark of 67. That is a full 11lb below the mark off which she last won at York in May 2016 so there is no doubt that she is feasibly treated. The return of Jack Garrity to the saddle has to be viewed as a positive as he has ridden Lil Sophella to victory twice before, including at York last year.

This 8yo daughter of Indian Haven has also shown a liking for Musselburgh down through the years and she has often run well here. Her form figures over this course and distance read 25221384 and her best performances have come on good to firm ground. She was beaten just over 2L here off 81 last June and while she isn’t getting any younger a repeat of that run would see her go very close this evening. She may well struggle to reverse the form with Masarzain from last time, but she is capable of running a big race and at odds of 20/1 I think she is worth chancing each way.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 18.05 MUSSELBURGH-LIL SOPHELLA E/W @ 20/1