16:10 Musselburgh

Sunday 5 February 2017

All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:40

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 6m 26.1s

Cup Final²⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 146

9/2

Very well backed when taking this contest on Soft ground last year from a 14lb lower mark, before tackling the final of this series at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2016 (pulled up). Nevertheless, a mark of 137 proved still lenient enough to follow up at the Punchestown Festival in April 2016, staying on strongly to run down Jury Duty by a short head. Much respected on his long awaited return from a 9lb higher mark than that last success.

Form: 1P/1041-

Call The Cops⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 145

66/1

Winner of the final of this Pertemps Series at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2015 from a mark of 138, and narrowly denied the following month by Taglietelle at Aintree. Only eighth in this race last year and chasing campaign swiftly abandoned this season after a refusal, with this mark of 145 still looking on the high side.

Form: 0R8089-

Aubusson³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 145

12/1

Talented hurdler, and winner of the Grade 3 Fixed Brush handicap hurdle at Haydock in November 2014 who went onto contest the World Hurdle the following March, and was beaten by a nose by Thousand Stars in a Grade 1 3m event at Auteuil in November 2015. Hasn't proven as effective over fences and returns to hurdles at this level for the first time in a while. Will relish substantial volumes of rain.

Form: 1P-5449

Wotzizname^t⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 140

7/2

Unbeaten in staying novice hurdles for Harry Fry during the spring (at Exeter and Uttoxeter), and very difficult to assess in terms of a rating (given a mark of 140). Didn't take immediately well to chasing earlier this campaign (has point-to-point experience) and returns to hurdles very much an unknown in this sort of company. Interesting.

Form: 21F21-1

El Bandit⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 139

15/2

Rattled up a five-timer over hurdles between late April 2016 and October 2016 over trips upto 2m 5f. His rating took a predictable hike (112 to 138), and he struggled stepped up in trip and class on Soft ground over 3m in a similar contest at Newbury's Hennessy meeting. This easier track might well help in terms of the trip, but he has a little to prove after a deserved short break.

Form: 111710-

Alzammaar¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 138

11/2

A three time winner over hurdles (twice at staying trips) for previous trainer Warren Greatrex, and joined this new trainer for £20,000 at the Doncaster November 2016 sales. Outpaced over an inadequate 2m 3f on stable debut at Catterick late last month, he stayed on strongly from two out to get within a closing half length of Nietzche. That effort was a fine return giving away volumes of weight, and he deserves his place in this stronger race.

Form: 1-17025

Morito Du Berlais^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 135

33/1

Has left Paul Nicholls for £15,000 having seemingly not adapted to a switch to chasing. A three time winner over hurdles, including from a 5lb lower mark (130) at Ascot in March 2015, he's presumably been bought by Lucinda Russell with this race in mind, and Blair Campbell takes off a valuable 7lb.

Form: 61/73-4P

Clondaw Kaempfer^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 131

11/2

A course winner from a 3lb lower mark on New Years Day (3m), this trip should be within range given the fact he stayed on strongly. However, this contest is a grade higher (Class 2), and on that basis alone, at the age of nine, he will find it tough to follow up.

Form: F/34177-

Nautical Nitwit²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 130

16/1

Phil Kirby hasn't been afraid to set this eight-year-old stiff tasks since winning at Wetherby in October from a 5lb lower mark, and he's bounced back from visits to Cheltenham and Newbury with a fair second to One For Harry at Wetherby last month. He looks vulnerable from a career high mark of 130, but has earned his place in the line up.

Form: 131B8F

Arthurs Secret³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 120

7/1

Got within one and three quarter lengths of Clondaw Kaempfer on New Years Day, and renews battle on 2lb better terms (9lb if factoring in the riders claim), but has won only once previously over hurdles and this looks way too competitive.

Form: 322284-

Stoneham^h³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 116

40/1

Musselburgh regular, both Flat and Jumps who faces a very difficult task here from out of the handicap, and has been well beaten in much weaker contests at this track the last twice.

Form: 222426

Non-Runners

Oscar Rock⁸⁰

Weight: 11-11| Age: 9

T: J M Jefferson J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

Wotzizname (7/2), Cup Final (9/2), Alzammaar (11/2), Clondaw Kaempfer (11/2), Oscar Rock (6/1), Arthurs Secret (7/1), El Bandit (15/2), Aubusson (12/1), Nautical Nitwit (16/1), Morito Du Berlais (33/1), Stoneham (40/1), Call The Cops (66/1)

An ultra competitive handicap with a place in the first six guaranteeing a run in the Pertemps Series Final at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Cup Final was backed off the boards when taking this race last year, but returns to the track from a 14lb higher mark than this time in 2016. Call The Cops is still paying the price for his success in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham in 2015, and like Cup Final, very much has the proven track record, but this is a fact that the handicapper is well aware of. Aubusson has mixed it with some of the best hurdlers, but isn't partnered by his usual rider Lizzie Kelly here, so a chance is taken with the unexposed Harry Fry trained WOTZIZNAME. Whilst some may feel that a mark of 140 is high enough, he's a difficult horse to handicap and has a profile not too dissimilar to that of Cup Final at this time last year. 1. Wotzizname 2. Alzammaar 3. Cup Final