The five-furlong dash at Sandown is known for its hard luck stories, and we are sure to see one or two in this year’s renewal of the Scurry Stakes.
If you miss the break, you can kiss your chances goodbye. But should your selection ping the gates and bag the rail, you will be in a prime position to collect.
Get the best Scurry Stakes odds from the best online horse racing bookmakers here.
BetMGM Scurry Stakes Runner By Runner Betting Guide – 5f
🏇 4 STAR OF MEHMAS (2)
- Age: 3
- Weight: 9st 2lb
- Form: 111-32
- Rating: 100
- Jockey: Ryan Moore
- Trainer: Richard Hughes
- Odds: 5/2
A Listed winner as a two-year-old, Star Of Mehmas, even though she has yet to record a win this season, looks as if she has trained on. The daughter of Mehmas has put in two good displays so far this season.
First, when doing well to take third place in a 6f Listed sprint on the all-weather at Chelmsford (Hold A Dream finished second) and backed that up with a near miss in the Westow Stakes at York over 5f.
She has been given an ideal draw to attack from the front, and with Ryan Moore keeping the faith, Star Of Mehmas has a lot in her favour to get back into the winner’s enclosure over 5f.
Star rating: ⭐️⭐⭐️⭐⭐
🐎 Bet on Star Of Mehmas with Betfred 🐎
🏇 5 HOLD A DREAM (1)
- Age: 3
- Weight: 8st 13lb
- Form: 221-25
- Rating: 97
- Jockey: Rossa Ryan
- Trainer: Clive Cox
- Odds: 11/4
Hold A Dream has finished ahead of Star Of Mehmas when they met at Chelmsford in May and now gets a 5lb swing in the weights here. The drop back to 5f should hold no fear for the Bated Breath filly, but even with the swing in the weights with Star Of Mehmas, she might find her a bit too sharp over this trip.
If she can keep up with the fast starters, she will be the one finishing strong at the depth. She poses a big threat to everyone from the plum draw.
Star rating: ⭐️⭐⭐️⭐
🐎 Bet on Hold A Dream with SBK 🐎
🏇 1 COTO DE CAZA (3)
- Age: 3
- Weight: 9st 4lb
- Form: 31131-
- Rating: 106
- Jockey: Harry Davies
- Trainer: Simon & Ed Christopher
- Odds: 7/2
Five runs last season resulted in three wins for the Sioux Nation filly, including a Group 3 win at Newmarket. But she was beaten by Star Of Mehmas on level terms last season. And now having to give away 2lbs and race fitness to the Richard Hannon runner, she may find it hard to reverse that form on her first start of the season.
She’s an exciting filly for the season ahead, but it may be best to watch her on her first start of the season.
Star rating: ⭐️⭐⭐️⭐
🐎 Bet on Coto de Caza talkSPORT BET 🐎
🏇 8 TOWN AND COUNTRY (4)
- Age: 3
- Weight: 8st 13lb
- Form: 710-22
- Rating: 98
- Jockey: Colin Keane
- Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
- Odds: 9/2
Top national hunt trainer Henry de Bromhead sends over his progressive sprinting filly for a crack at Listed glory, and any horse that the Waterford-based trainer sends overseas needs a second look. She comes here on the back of a near miss in a similar event at Cork, where she just ran out of track to reel in the winner.
That form has worked out well, with the fourth-place finisher, Babouche, going on to win a Group 3 on her next start. That was over a half a furlong further, and she now looks ready for another crack over 6f. Town And Country is given the utmost respect, and she has a part to play, but she might have to settle for a supporting role.
Star rating: ⭐️⭐⭐️⭐
🐎 Bet on Town And Country with bet365 🐎
🏇 2 KULLAZAIN (8)
- Age: 3
- Weight: 9st 4lb
- Form: 313-9
- Rating: 95
- Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- Trainer: James Tate
- Odds: 25/1
Kullazain broke her maiden tag over course and distance, but she has a bit to find with Coto De Caza on their meeting in a Newmarket Group 3. She gets a swing in the weights with that rival here, but her comeback left a lot to be desired.
Now, she is entitled to step forward for that run, but it will need to be a massive step to see her fighting it out from stall 8.
Star rating: ⭐️⭐
🐎 Bet on Kullazain with Paddy Power 🐎
🏇 7 PROUDLY YOURS (6)
- Age: 3
- Weight: 8st 13lb
- Form: 9-8340
- Rating: 93
- Jockey: Lewis Edmunds
- Trainer: Rod Millman
- Odds: 25/1
Proudly Yours has been running well on all-weather tracks, notably when just behind Star Of Mehmas and Hold A Dream at Chelmsford, but her form on turf is a major concern. She has yet to threaten to get her head on turf and has been well beaten in two Listed sprints on turf in the UK and when trained in Ireland. So, a breakthrough win on turf is highly unlikely to materialise here.
Star rating: ⭐️
🐎 Bet on Proudly Yours with Ladbrokes 🐎
🏇 6 PEARL OF WINDSOR (5)
- Age: 3
- Weight: 8st 13lb
- Form: 685-88
- Rating: 81
- Jockey: David Egan
- Trainer: Conrad Allen
- Odds: 50/1
Pearl Of Windsor got the better of Hold A Dream over course and distance last season and followed that up with a win and three-length sixth to Star Of Mehmas. But even since then this daughter of Pinatubo has struggled to get back to those rights.
She has been well beaten in her two starts this season, and just like her sire, it appears that she has failed to train as a three-year-old. But there is that small slither of hope that the return to Sandown may spark her back to life.
Star rating: ⭐️
🐎 Bet on Pearl Of Windsor with Tote 🐎
🏇 3 MARTY HOPKIRK (7)
- Age: 3
- Weight: 9st 4lb
- Form: 01
- Rating: –
- Jockey: Tom Marquand
- Trainer: David Loughnane
- Odds: 66/1
This three-year-old filly has only had two career starts to date but comes in here on the back of a gutsy win at Wolverhampton. She showed raw speed that day, along with a lot of greenness, but still had enough to hold on for the win. This is a big step up in class for her on only her third career start, but the booking of Tom Marquand is eye-catching. Given her inexperience, she may find things happening a bit too quickly for her, but if she can cope with that, her unexposed nature makes her interesting with connections trying her at this level after just two runs.
Star rating: ⭐️⭐️
🐎 Bet on Marty Hopkirk with Betfred 🐎
BetMGM Scurry Stakes verdict
This year’s running of the Scurry Stakes looks above standard, and it should make for great viewing. The main contenders have all been drawn well, and the winning and losing of this race could come down to a flared nostril.
But when all is said and done, the front-running STAR OF MEHMAS can get off the mark at the third time of asking this season. She has been well drawn, and if she can secure the running rail, she will prove hard to pass.
About the author
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).
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