13:50 Musselburgh

Saturday 31 March 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

toteplacepot Handicap

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 1m 35.02s

(5)

Masham Star²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 95| D

6/1

Scored over this trip from 5lb higher at Chelmsford (AW) in September. Handles this ground on turf, sees out 1m and though not the easiest to win with, he is on a competitive mark.

Form: 75105-3

(8)

Hayadh⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 95| D

6/1

Races over his optimum trip here and has won on good to soft. Should strip fitter for his run in last week's Lincoln and this is capable of better in this field following a 2lb drop.

Form: 641/189

(1)

Set In Stone¹⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 92| BF| C

9/1

Scored here over 1m in September from a mark of 86. Well held next time (her latest start) after being put up to today's mark. Has a bit to prove on the back of that, as well as in terms of fitness after a winter break.

Form: 161116-

(3)

Lualiwa³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 92| D

6/1

Had a good summer last year before the assessor caught up with him. Won twice over this trip at Chester (good to firm) and York (good to soft). Also went close from 1lb higher than today next time. Recent pipe opener should help. Claims.

Form: 11260-0

(2)

Ower Fly¹⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: J Garritty| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 91| D

12/1

His last three wins have all been over this trip, one of them on good to soft for Rchard Hannon at Lingfield in September. 8lb higher today on first start for this trainer, has run well when fresh, though will need some improvement to win.

Form: 403210-

(4)

Sharp Defence^b²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Josephine Gordon| T: A McGuinness| OR: 90| D

13/2

His record suggests that this trip is the limit of his stamina, but he comes into this on a decent mark based on some of his form last year. Recently been campaigned in Meydan without success. Wouldn't rule him out of the money if on song.

Form: 69-5060

(6)

Twin Appeal^b⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Ben Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Barron| OR: 85| BF| CD

11/2

Goes well here (has two C&D wins to his name) and acts on the forecast ground. Won this last year from a 4lb higher mark and has continued to perform with credit on All Weather surfaces during the winter. 5lb claim will help and is short-listed.

Form: 8521-45

(7)

Imperial State^t²⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 82WS

8/1

Both his wins have been over 1m on good to firm, though he proved himself on good to soft when disqualified at Thirsk in 2016. Has had wind surgery since his last start in July and is weighted to be very competitive if ready first time.

Form: 693314-

(10)

Luis Vaz De Torres^h¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 80| CD

7/1

Goes on any ground and scored over C&D (good to firm) last season. Showed last season that he is capable of being competitive from this sort of mark. Recent pipe-opener should help and he should be thereabouts.

Form: 42069-5

(9)

Exchequer^p¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: J Fanning| T: R C Guest| OR: 80| D

25/1

It is almost two years since he last registered a win, though that was on the Polytrack and he is 0-15 on turf. Trip not a problem and is not badly treated on his 2016 from from this mark, but his inability to win on grass is a concern.

Form: 320442

Non-Runners

(11)

Lefortovo²⁶⁰

Weight: 8-13| Age: 5

T: J Hughes J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Twin Appeal (11/2), Lualiwa (6/1), Hayadh (6/1), Masham Star (6/1), Sharp Defence (13/2), Luis Vaz De Torres (7/1), Imperial State (8/1), Set In Stone (9/1), Ower Fly (12/1), Lefortovo (16/1), Exchequer (25/1)

TWIN APPEAL has been kept going throughout the winter so he will have no fitness issues going into a race he won last year from 4lb higher. Ben Robinson's 5lb claim is also a help and he is taken to score. Lualiwa looks likely to be on the premises and could be the main danger, though Set In Stone also makes appeal along with Luis Vaz De Torres. Imperial State is also interesting on his first start for Mick Easterby.