Can Emmet Mullins do it again? Grand National hero takes aim at Flat prize

Saturday: 3.14 Musselburgh
Betway Queen's Cup | 1m6f | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Emmet Mullins has quickly established a reputation as one of the most astute young target trainers in the business and he bids for a rare big-race Saturday double, a week after Noble Yeats’ 50-1 heroics in the Grand National.

Bookmakers are significantly more alive to Zero Ten’s prospects in the Betway Queen’s Cup than they were with Noble Yeats at Aintree, but the Flat runner's chances are abundantly more transparent.

Zero Ten took his Flat form to a new level last time. He was only three-quarters of a length behind dual Classic-winning mare Search For A Song in the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak in October and he is partnered by an apprentice destined for the top in Benoit de la Sayette, whose 7lb claim means the nine-year-old is essentially running from a mark of 100.

Zero Ten: an interesting Irish challengerCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

The 174-day layoff is of little concern either. Zero Ten’s record following breaks of 90 days or longer reads 152111 and the impression is he has been laid out for this contest.

Mullins has plundered five major prizes over jumps in Britain with Noble Yeats, The Shunter and Cape Gentleman, but somewhat surprisingly that success is yet to translate on the Flat as he is 0-13. The trainer’s fortunes could change at Musselburgh.

Of those in opposition, Charlie and Mark Johnston’s trio merit respect, particularly as the yard have saddled the past two winners of the Queen’s Cup including 2021 scorer Themaxwecan.

Soapy Stevens is the least fancied in the betting but makes the most appeal at the prices. A progressive three-year-old last term, Soapy Stevens showed his best form over this 1m6f trip but ended his campaign on a quiet note with a seventh behind Tashkhan at Haydock on soft ground. That contest has worked out well and Soapy Stevens’ profile points towards a quicker surface being preferable. He could easily resume his improvement on this better ground.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

The man to beat - can Johnston complete a hat-trick?

It does not take Sherlock Holmes to find the most likely suspect when you are investigating a £100,000 handicap over 1m6f in Scotland.

Few trainers have more progressive middle-distance stayers in their string than proud Scot Mark Johnston and fewer still are as happy to go mob-handed when there is big money on offer.

He won the Queen's Cup with Austrian School in 2019, when he also took fourth, fifth and tenth with his four-strong team.

And the trainer aimed five at the prize when the race resumed after Covid last year, with Themaxwecan coming home first ahead of stablemates in third, sixth, seventh and tenth, on a day when he had a 1,900-1 four-timer on the card.

Mark Johnston: seeking a third win in this raceCredit: Getty Images

The Johnstons may again be the ones to beat, with Themaxwecan reunited with winning jockey Ben Curtis, racing off the same mark and making his seasonal reappearance as he did in 2021. He is joined by Soapy Stevens and State Of Bliss.

Assessing his runners, co-trainer Mark Johnston said: "The form is there for people to see. At one end of the scale, you've got Themaxwecan, who won it last year. The going could be against him as he likes it fast.

"At the other end, we've got Soapy Stevens, who has just crept in. He's progressive and could be the right kind of horse for it. State Of Bliss ran okay the other day but we're still working out his ideal trip."

What they say

Heather Main, trainer of Island Brave
We're hopeful. He didn't get much luck at Meydan but he's come back in really good form and the track, trip and ground will suit him.

Ian Williams, trainer of Enemy and Haliphon
Enemy is interesting, he ran well in Dubai when stepped up in trip. It was a solid performance and this is the acid test of whether he's going to be a decent stayer. I was happy with Haliphon's first run for us, if he stays the trip, he's no outsider.

Tim Easterby, trainer of Dark Jedi
He's in good form and should have a good chance. He ran nicely at Doncaster and he was placed over this course and distance.

Eve Johnson Houghton, trainer of HMS President
He's in good form but he has a shocking draw. He's got the ability to win this but everything's got to fall in place from that draw.

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Blow Your Horn
He's in great shape but he's had a long time off so the question is whether he's fit enough. He's surprised me this spring just how well he's worked and he has a decent draw.
Reporting by David Carr

Saturday's race previews:

1.50 Newbury: Christophe Soumillon out to make rare British trip pay on this 'cracking horse'

2.25 Newbury: Charlie Appleby: 'we're using this as a springboard to the French 1,000 Guineas'

3.00 Newbury: 'He's the one they have to beat' - find out who is confident for the Greenham

3.00 Newbury: 'There seems to be lots of would-be sprinters' - Keith Melrose on Greenham trend (Members’ Club)

3.25 Cork: Can consistent Thunder Kiss continue red-hot Ger Lyons form in Listed prize?

3.35 Newbury: Which Spring Cup runner 'clearly has some unfinished business'?

4.50 Fairyhouse: Paul Townend puts faith in Farout as Willie Mullins fields seven in feature race

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