15:45 Musselburgh

Sunday 4 February 2018

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:20

bet365 Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 7m 14.0s

Ready Token^t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 121

20/1

Four-time winner over fences, though nothing since dual 2016 prizes at Warwick over 3m. Likes to be up on the front end and was running potentially big race at a price when brought down at Ludlow last month. On a very workable mark at his best.

Form: P04-8PB

Gorsky Island^p1²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr N George⁽⁷⁾| T: T R George| OR: 119

12/1

Now ten-years-old and signs of temperament last time at Ludlow when not keen to race, went on to finish 21L third of 11 and has limited appeal today despite addition of first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 3/P-82P3

By The Boardwalk^t⁸⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: M Hamill⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 119

12/1

Latest of four career wins came at Market Rasen (3m, good) in October 2016, some fair placed efforts since and didn't enjoy much fortune at Ludlow over this sort of trip in October when last spotted, but overall something to find nowadays.

Form: 432-304

Royale Django^p,t1⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 117WS

16/1

Can be given some claims off this rating on best form but quite some time since he's shown that over fences and will need the recent wind operation to bring about a change in fortune seemingly.

Form: F-P533P

General Mahler^t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 113

4/1

Sole win was over 2m4f (soft) in a Sedgefield hurdle almost two years ago. Has shaped with some promise in two chase starts at Market Rasen and Doncaster (3m, soft) recently and has some potential in this grade if seeing out longer trip now.

Form: P4-0524

Carlton Ryan³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 112| BF

10/3

Prolific point-to-point and hunter chase winner who stays 3m2f and acts on heavy ground, well held when falling late on at Bangor last month on seasonal bow but that looked a tired fall more than anything and should give a better account now.

Form: 1/2212-F

Lowanbehold³³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 102

9/2

Veteran now and proved well-being on seasonal bow when scoring in Hexham four-miler on heavy ground. Backed that effort up with sound third at Ayr (3m, heavy) since and not discounted off same mark over this trip, which should play to strengths.

Form: 434-313

Attention Please^p¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 93

3/1

Improving over these obstacles and set to mount big challenge over 3m (soft) here 16 days ago when coming to grief at two out. Runs off the same mark, had previously scored at Doncaster and Catterick and may go well if none the worse for that spill.

Form: 2-0711F

Non-Runners

Golden Investment²⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 9

T: D McCain Jnr J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

Attention Please (3/1), Carlton Ryan (10/3), General Mahler (4/1), Lowanbehold (9/2), Golden Investment (7/1), By The Boardwalk (12/1), Gorsky Island (12/1), Royale Django (16/1), Ready Token (20/1)

A wide open contest, with several attempting to bounce back after recent mishaps. Attention Please is one of those and was set to mount a bold hat-trick bid at this track recently when he crashed out at the second last when in contention. From an unchanged mark, he commands respect. Golden Investment unseated last time at Catterick but represents a yard in super form and could bounce back now. The veteran Lowanbehold, winner over a marathon trip at Hexham on penultimate start, should get involved over this trip having again run well since at Ayr while Ready Token is potentially well handicapped if able to produce something near his best. General Mahler has scope over fences but CARLTON RYAN is perhaps the most dependable now. He appeared in need of the outing at Bangor last month, falling when beaten and tired at the last. He drops 3lb and get a useful 7lb claimed by today's returning rider. They are three from four in tandem, and can extend that strike rate now.