13:50 Musselburgh

Wednesday 8 November 2017

All12:4513:1513:5014:2515:0015:30

Alastair Montgomery Trust Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 3m 38.5s

Golden Jeffrey¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 132| CD

11/4

Back into calmer waters here after testing his credentials in minor event at Cheltenham last time out. Has won twice over hurdles both times from the front and faces a good scenario to go from the front here; penalty makes life tough though.

Form: 1-1F114

Beyond The Clouds³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: K A Ryan| CD

1/1

Dual bumper winner here on debut and at Worcester more recently who also won on his hurdles debut beating subsequent winners at Kelso in what looks to be a hot race. Should be able to follow-up despite a penalty; decent prospect.

Form: 12-11

Boy's On Tour^h1³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

25/1

Winner of a point-to-point over 3m who showed up relatively well on his bumper debut at Perth. Failed to back that effort up sent over hurdles running poorly (jumped right) and now hooded for second hurdles start.

Form: 6P1-4P

Great Colaci¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: G Boanas| C

50/1

His best form on the Flat (winner 53) came over 7f and even over a sharp 2m his stamina is going to be called into question especially if he fails to settle as he did on hurdles debut.

Form: 6

Kelpies Myth³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| CD

20/1

Showed his best form when scoring here over 2m on his 4th bumper start (all previous bumpers over shorter). Very much bred for speed than stamina though and probably needed the run on his first start for this yard over hurdles at Kelso.

Form: 3201-6

Montrachet Mix²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J Kington⁽³⁾| T: P Holmes

100/1

Despite running for a top yard on his first two runs (Dan Skelton) he showed very little and was quickly dismissed from that yard. Made very little show for this new stable and can only be watched here.

Form: 79-P

My Jamaican Guy⁴⁷²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: I Jardine

16/1

Made one Flat start for James Given last summer at Carlisle over 1m1f (started 80/1) and now goes hurdling for the first time fir a new yard. Plenty to prove on the evidence so far.

Form:

Optima Petamus¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Robert Hogg⁽⁷⁾| T: P Holmes

25/1

Just 1/19 on the Flat with the win coming for Luca Cumani ay Windsor over a mile in 2015. Has proved limited on the Flat this year with his two previous hurdles starts uninspiring and looks set to struggle again here.

Form: 35-

Pc Dixon¹⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr D Delahunt⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson

25/1

A regressive sort on the Flat for the Channon yard failing to score in 10 starts in that sphere. Now returns from a break for a new yard trying a new discipline but hardly makes much appeal.

Form:

Permission Granted¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin

50/1

From a stable that has had a good start to the main jumps season but this one looks as though he will be a handicap project. Very much one for the longer term and best watched for now.

Form: 9-8

Pumaflor²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Dowson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby

12/1

Been around the block already in terms of trainers but has in the past shown some useful form on the Flat but is a temperamental sort. Wasn't disgraced on a recent hurdles start at Huntingdon despite being flattered by his proximity to the winner.

Form: P/3

Rooster Spirit¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: C O'Farrell| T: R M Smith

100/1

Had shown some ability in bumpers but then refused to race on his last start in that sphere. Looks one to treat with caution over hurdles having shown little in this discipline so far.

Form: 34R-U08

Royal Mandate¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Tony Kelly| T: R Menzies

6/1

Made some appeal on pedigree when making his start hurdles debut for Dan Skelton but fell at the first. Reappeared 13 months later for his current yard and showed some promise (offered something to work on); place chance here.

Form: F-3

Wotabreeze¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Cook| T: J & S Quinn

7/1

Finished one place behind Royal Mandate on his hurdling debut shaping better than the distance he was beaten. A triple Flat winner (all wins off marks in 60's) he should be capable of better in time; handicaps a possibility.

Form: 4

Forecasts

Beyond The Clouds (1/1), Golden Jeffrey (11/4), Royal Mandate (6/1), Wotabreeze (7/1), Pumaflor (12/1), My Jamaican Guy (16/1), Kelpies Myth (20/1), Boy's On Tour (25/1), Optima Petamus (25/1), Pc Dixon (25/1), Great Colaci (50/1), Permission Granted (50/1), Montrachet Mix (100/1), Rooster Spirit (100/1)

Fairly hard to see beyond the “big two” of BEYOND THE CLOUDS and Golden Jeffrey here with the latter already attaining a mark of 132 and the latter looking as though he’ll be rated higher than that and they should and will dominate the market. The others look to be running for places and handicap marks although that means they may not want to get too near the two already highlighted. Royal Mandate and Wotabreeze have already clashed once and there might not be much between those two again with Pumaflor another to look out for if his temperament holds up. Kelpies Myth and Permission Granted are two to watch with regard to handicaps further down the line.