- This topic has 5 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 2 months ago by
.
- Posts
MUSSELBURGH Cheltenham Trials Day
A large amount of rain in recent days has seen the ground turn Good to Soft, Soft in places. The wind was blowing in Edinburgh today (Saturday), so there’s a fair chance the surface will have dried out a bit. However, we will be dependent on whether and when the forecast rain hits Musselburgh.
I can’t say I go into this meeting with a huge amount of confidence from a putting point of view. The 2.00 might through an outsider winner, but identifying possibles isn’t easy.
1.30 Scottish Racing Novices Hurdle – 2m 4f – 6 runners
A regular attendee at this meeting, Nick Henderson brings a contingent north from Lambourn. He starts off with SKINT in the opener, an event he won last year with Candy Creek. A winner on soft going in a bumper, Skint shouldn’t be inconvenienced by cut and comes to this off a decent second in a competitive handicap at Kempton.
The northern challenge in this six-runner contest is led by Moon Indigo. Consistent in northern novice hurdles, he was put in his place in a Grade 2 event at Wetherby. He’s got two pounds to spare on official ratings against Skint and might hurry up that one if this turned into a stamina test.
Bridlingtonbygones should win hurdles but needs to step up on his Sedgefield second to Pure Faith, while Kilbeggan maiden hurdle winner Gentleman Jeff looks destined to scrap for place money on his debut for Chris Grant..
Wyse Hill Teabags was held in moderate event here on his hurdling debut. He should be favoured by the step up in trip, and is progressing at his own level, but doesn’t look good enough here.
All-weather flat winner Gearbox has a serious task on his hands first time over obstacles.2.00 Racing UK Handicap Hurdle (0-120) – 2m 4f – 14 runners
There should be decent pace on here as Sunarri and Hazeldene are both front-runners and Quatro Pierji has raced prominently over hurdles. The first two have decent form in their recent record, though Hazeldene comes off a break, but if they take each other on they may well be vulnerable to something held up.
I’m hard pressed to make out strong cases for many of the rest but ALTAN KHAN looks progressive having won here in November. Provided he’s been kept fit then the extra distance should be in his favour.
Top weight Viva Colonia has improved but needs to find more under 7lbs extra for a close second last time.
Looking for an outsider, Lawgiver might go well if on a going day, but this is not a race I will want to get too heavily involved in.2.30 John Smith’s Scottish Triumph Hurdle (4yo) – 2m – 10 runners
This race yielded a decent winner last year in Carlito Brigante who went on to fly the flag prominently in the Triumph at Cheltenham.
I suspect these will prove handicappers in the long run rather than Triumph candidates, but it at least looks a competitive, Nick Henderson’s Tatin De Sarti bringing forth solid form from Newbury. However, I’m tempted to go against the grain here with ELTHEEB. His third on debut at Doncaster looked a sound effort and he wouldn’t have to have learnt much to get involved in the issue here.
Music Of The Moor’ s last run can be ignored as his saddle slipped, and he would be right in the mix judged by his Sandown win. That was in heavy and any pre-race rain would do his chances no harm.
Micky Hammond runs two fair sorts in Danceintothelight and Meetings Man. The former may well prove best on the evidence of his two wins, while Meetings Man’s run here puts him on a par with Lucinda Russell trained The Starboard Bow, though the latter disappointed a little at Ayr.
James Ewart’s course winner Vosges looks likely to find a few too good.
Ananda Khan is asked big questions on her hurdling debut but may be one to watch with the future in mind.3.00 John Smith’s Novices’ Chase – 2m 4f – 4 runners
A small field for a race that has yielded decent winners in Kalahari King and Fiendish Flame, but there are three previous winners on show. That being said, I have been most taken by NAFAATH who ran a cracking race on chasing debut at Ayr. Along with Wind Shuffle he provided a spectacle at Ayr, the pair pinging the closing fences and having a grand set to on the run-in. Nafaath was gaining there and looks ideally set up to take this contest.
Gilbarry looks the main danger but his jumping hasn’t been as sharp as it could have been to date.
Divers will win more chases but has a bit to find here.
Front-runner Film Festival looks fourth best, but should ensure a decent pace.3.35 John Smith’s Scottish County Handicap Hurdle – 2m – 14 runners
I’m normally looking for a progressive type to win this sort of event. In this case I’m struggling to find many that aren’t well under the measure of the handicapper. Hunterview, the likely favourite, and Kudu Country ran well enough last time to suggest that they can get involved here. My preference however is for DRILL SERGEANT, moved back to two miles after running down the field to James De Vassy at Kempton.
Most of the remainder have been pretty well tied down by the assessor, while French import Premier Grand Cru doesn’t seem to have been done any favours on his British debut. Caravel is 3 out of 3 at Musselburgh but might have tough task in this company and wouldn’t be favoured by any rain.4.10 Racing UK on Sky 432 Handicap Chase 0-120 – 2m – 7 runners
Musselburgh have struggled to fill their chase fields this season and this contest had to re-opened at the first entry stage. On that basis I suppose we should be chuffed with a field of seven.
EARL GREZ is lightly raced but going in the right direction. This race gives Philip Kirby’s six-year-old a chance to step up on his close Warwick second, run out of it on that occasion by a McCoy inspired Folie A Deux.
A chance can be given to a handful here, a possible danger being Or D’Oudairies who made a promising start for Ferdy Murphy here last month.4.40 Racing UK Intermediate NH Flat Race – 2m – 6 runners
The turn out here is disappointing and Nick Henderson’s newcomer DARK SHADOW won’t need to be anything special to take this. He seems well enough bred and the stable should have him ready enough.
Serenader appears best of those with experience, his third at Carlisle looking a fair enough effort.
The Tracey Shuffle has a decent jumps pedigree and could get involved if stepping up on a moderate debut on the Kempton Polytrack.
The remaining trio have been well held in bumpers here.Tough card for punters. I’ll be taking on Nafaath in the Novice chase. Best over 10f on flat, 21/2 on soft ground is a big ask and at evens i’d rather go with Gilbarry who has a lot of potential and looks like a step up in trip will help him.
Weather is drizzly here at the moment and pretty much the same forecast for Musselburgh up to the start of racing and through the afternoon. Ground will probably veer towards soft.
Rob
Weather is drizzly here at the moment and pretty much the same forecast for Musselburgh up to the start of racing and through the afternoon. Ground will probably veer towards soft.
Rob
I drove through a seemingly endless rainstorm but thankfully by the time we arrived in Musselburgh it had calmed down to a light drizzle.
On arrival at the course around 1245 it became apparent that the "Thommo" show was going to be a recurring issue today.
"Back Skint and you won’t be… ho, ho, ho". "Divers, it’s always going down, ho, ho, ho,…". "Santa’s son, I didn’t know he had any kids, ho, ho, ho,…".
Trying to block out the inane ramblings of TV’s Top Man </depressedsigh>, I didn’t back anything in the first, I thought the odds on fav and 2nd fav were stuck on to come home in order, so I went for Santa’s Son (on my 4 yr old’s recommendation) and my own choice Pokfulham (on the basis of his soft ground form). Wish I’d done a forecast
, but a tidy 3 figure sum to pay for the day after on race 2.I was always going to have a tenner e/w on all 3 of James Ewart’s horses, Vosges bravely fought back to get up at 7s in the third race (I can be seen at the winning line with my red hat on, and a 4 y/o in a green jacket in my arms). Premier Grand Crus looked stunning in the parade ring, probably need the run, but on looks alone, wow.
I also had a something on my hero Graham Lee’s mounts. I gave Graham Lee a wave and go a wink back, and got a hello from Ferdy. Divers thankfully didn’t listen to Thommo and "go down" under a strong drive from Graham.
In hindsight, the most obvious multiple bet would have been the 2 Pipe horses running for Jo Tracey, I was too snobbish looking for ‘value’. I’ll not make that mistake again.
The Brian Ellison winner was impressive too, I had a gut feeling that he would be due one today, but I didn’t act on it.
All in, a very enjoyable day out, though some earplugs between races wouldn’t go amiss
, but a tidy 3 figure sum to pay for the day after on race 2.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.