18:05 Musselburgh

Friday 8 September 2017

All16:3017:0517:3518:0518:3519:0519:35

Cala Homes Handicap

Off time: 18:05 | Winning time: 1m 39.01s

(10)

Masarzain⁹^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Edward Greatrex| T: A Watson| OR: 68| CD

13/8

Has come back to form since joining this yard, winning two of his four starts since doing so, including over C&D by 4½L last time. Carries a penalty for that but does not look to have stopped progressing in the short-term.

Form: 635121

(7)

Lil Sophella⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: J Garritty| T: P Holmes| OR: 67| CD

16/1

Has got some good C&D form here, though has lost her way a bit since last winning at York in May last year and now on a losing run of 16. Has a squeak if able to reproduce her Thirsk run from last month, but carries risks at present.

Form: 978744

(3)

Edgar Allan Poe⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: J Fanning| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 71| D

9/2

Has done better with each run since joining current yard, winning his last two at Hamilton (soft) and Pontefract (good to soft) over a similar trip to this. Handles good to firm and hat-trick far from ruled out despite latest 7lb rise.

Form: 57-0611

(4)

Inglorious^p⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 67

12/1

Arguably better over 7f and recorded his sole win over that trip at Ayr last month, although does stay 1m1f. Has made the frame on all three visits here, including last time and has each-way claims from the same mark.

Form: 031583

(5)

Ellaal^p⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 62| CD

8/1

Has been a very good servant with a record of 12-87 and has won three of those here. Just 1lb higher than when scoring at Redcar last month, goes on fast ground and is entitled to plenty of respect now returning to this venue.

Form: 857182

(9)

Kicking The Can⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Natalie Hambling⁽⁷⁾| T: N Wilson| OR: 60| D

20/1

2-34 with one of those coming by just a nose at Redcar (1m, good) last time. Changed yards since and raised 3lb, but looks capable of another competitive effort.

Form: 3-52301

(6)

Argaki¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Rowan Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 60| CD

15/2

Was a C&D scorer in 2013, though has been on the slide since recording his last success at Ayr two years ago. Put up his best effort for some time at Hamilton last time and from the same mark he has a squeak.

Form: 906482

(2)

Armagnac⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Tristan Price⁽⁷⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 64| D

7/1

Was partnered by this pilot when breaking his duck at the 13th attempt in a modest Thirsk handicap (1m, good to firm) last time. Escapes a penalty for that and therefore entitled to be short-listed for the follow-up.

Form: 474041

(1)

Ching Ching Lor^v1¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: T Eaves| T: D Carroll| OR: 62

33/1

Won back-to-back races in the spring over 7f/1m½f, the former on fast ground at Ayr. Handicapper has had his measure since then and that is likely to be the case again this time.

Form: 711690

Non-Runners

(8)

Bernie's Boy⁴⁴

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: I Jardine J: Jamie Gormley

Forecasts

Masarzain (13/8), Edgar Allan Poe (9/2), Armagnac (7/1), Argaki (15/2), Ellaal (8/1), Bernie's Boy (8/1), Inglorious (12/1), Lil Sophella (16/1), Kicking The Can (20/1), Ching Ching Lor (33/1)

Armagnac has to come into consideration after scoring last time and escaping a penalty for that Thirsk success, though it was modest fayre and consistency would not be his strong point. Edgar Allan Poe is clearly in good form, though a 7lb rise looks a tough ask ahead of his hat-trick bid, while Inglorious should be in the mix once again. Ellaal goes well here and is respected along with Kicking The Can and Argaki, but preference is for MASARZAIN, who is an improver at this sort of level and can defy his penalty.