14:25 Musselburgh

Monday 26 November 2018

All12:4513:2013:5514:2515:0015:30

Isn't It Wiser To Bet At racinguk.com Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 3m 46.30s

Val Mome³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 115WS

5/2

Short-head winner of a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m at Bangor (good) early last month. Had wind surgery since disappointing at Kelso (2m, good) subsequently.

Form: 122517

Max Liebermann^p¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 108| D

16/1

Struggled over hurdles in recent times including when beaten 21L at Lingfield (2m, heavy) a fortnight ago. Debuting for a new yard.

Form: 13-4656

An Fear Ciuin^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 107| D

17/2

Winner of a 2m handicap hurdle at Kelso (good) last month. Held on both subsequent starts and looks in the grip of the handicapper at present.

Form: 429155

Icefall^p³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C R King| T: T D Easterby| OR: 107

7/1

Good second in a 2m maiden hurdle at Hexham (good) in September and placed in novice company since. Interesting runner off a mark 5lb lower than when making his handicap debut last time.

Form: 232348

Bagan²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: James Nixon⁽⁷⁾| T: T R Gretton| OR: 107

14/1

Shown ability in five starts so far including when beaten 14L at Fakenham (2m, good) in a maiden hurdle last time. Interesting to see how he fares on handicap debut.

Form: 4P434

Outcrop²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 107

4/1

Built on a promising return from a break when winning over 2m1f at Sedgefield (good) earlier this month. Has to defy an 8lb rise if he's to follow up.

Form: 25-8931

Ballynanty^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 105

28/1

AW maiden winner on the Flat but has failed to figure in four starts over hurdles so far. Probably best watched on handicap bow.

Form: 000-5

Astute Boy^t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 102

22/1

Fair fourth in a novice hurdle over 2m at Kelso (good) on debut for this yard last month. Well held on subsequent handicap debut however.

Form: 5248

Richard Strauss^p²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 95| D

7/2

Rewarded for some consistent Flat efforts this year when winning by a neck over 2m at Catterick (good-to-soft) last month. Worth a check in the market on his return to hurdles.

Form: 7654-88

Forecasts

Val Mome (5/2), Richard Strauss (7/2), Outcrop (4/1), Icefall (7/1), An Fear Ciuin (17/2), Bagan (14/1), Max Liebermann (16/1), Astute Boy (22/1), Ballynanty (28/1)

ICEFALL is taken to put a disappointing handicap debut behind him to take a competitive handicap hurdle contest. The selection showed some fair form over hurdles prior to that and he can take this at the chief expense of last time out winner Outcrop who can finish runner-up ahead of Val Mome who represents a top yard.