12:40 Musselburgh

Friday 19 January 2018

All12:4013:1513:4514:2014:5515:3016:00

Gerry's 50th Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 5m 3.96s

Alizee De Janeiro^p⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 112| CD

8/1

A winner over C&D (good) on her last visit to this track in March, this mare races from a 10lb higher mark today. However, she's largely consistent and looked to need a longer trip when beaten 5L by Meadowcroft Boy at Kelso (2m) in October.

Form: 51P3-23

Spectator⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 109

9/2

A regular on the Northern scene, so clearly not at all bothered by the travelling. His sole hurdles success at Kelso in October 2016 (2m maiden) came on quick ground, but he handled cut on the Flat and isn't fully exposed in handicaps.

Form: 713-25

Glingerside²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: R M Smith| OR: 106

7/1

Generally out of sorts since the spring months, but he has fallen in the weights and conditions won't be anywhere near as testing here as at Ayr; done plenty of his recent racing there. Needs to bounce back to form.

Form: 20-P5P4

Haulani²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 110

9/4

76-rated dual winner on the Flat who has made a promising enough start to his career over hurdles. Headed at the last, and beaten 10L by Redicean in a Class 2 juvenile at Kempton latest (2m soft). Up in trip and into a handicap.

Form: 32

Royal Mandate^p1³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Tony Kelly| T: R Menzies| OR: 97

10/1

Shaped with promise on his second start for this stable over 2m here in November when 24+L fourth to Beyond The Clouds. Disappointing on handicap debut latest, but dropped 3lb, and the combination of a new trip and cheek-pieces could assist.

Form: F-348

Permission Granted³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 95

25/1

Ran well enough at sizeable odds at Newcastle on his penultimate start (2m novices), but paid the price for racing keenly when upped to this trip for his handicap debut at Catterick in December. Ground an unknown.

Form: 9-8979

Morning With Ivan^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 95| C

10/3

A mare who arrives in rude health seeking a four-timer (also foaled prior to her return in November). Up 9lb for her Newcastle success prior to Christmas (2m+ soft), and whilst the runner up has won since, that'll put the skids on her progress.

Form: 9/721-11

Non-Runners

Red Ochre²⁴

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: C Grant J: Callum Bewley

Oromo¹⁴¹

Weight: 10-7| Age: 5

T: K Thornton J: A E Lynch

Forecasts

Haulani (9/4), Morning With Ivan (10/3), Spectator (9/2), Glingerside (7/1), Alizee De Janeiro (8/1), Royal Mandate (10/1), Oromo (12/1), Red Ochre (14/1), Permission Granted (25/1)

An open contest to kick off the Musselburgh action, with a number of these runners appearing capable enough of winning in this grade. Morning With Ivan is clearly a tough mare, and her latest Newcastle success has been franked by Baby Ticker, but she's up 9lb for that success, and she needs to fully prove herself over this longer trip. Both Spectator and Haulani should win their share of similar races and couldn't be ruled out, nor could the top-weighted Alizee De Janeiro, who will appreciate this longer trip, although seemingly most effective at Kelso. However, a speculative punt is taken on ROYAL MANDATE. He caught the eye over an inadequate 2m on his penultimate start at this track, and whilst disappointing on his handicap debut latest, things didn't fully seem to go his way that afternoon.