13:45 Musselburgh

Monday 3 December 2018

All12:1512:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:15

Watch Racing UK On Sky 426 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 3m 40.90s

Spin The Coin^t1²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-3| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 102WS

6/4

Runner-up on his only start in point-to-points he showed modest form over hurdles until his handicap debut; fell at the last (would have won), showing improved form. Shaped as if he needed the run last time and now returns from wind surgery.

Form: 2/549F-0

Dance Of Fire³⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 97

11/1

Managed three Flat wins (won off 83) when with Andrew Balding but has shown very little over hurdles for his current yard (tried in cheekpieces/hood). 3lb lower than finishing last of 14 over C&D a year ago when he was off the bridle before halfway.

Form: 566/460-

Smart Ruler⁶²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: James Moffatt| OR: 94| CD

11/1

Over two years since his last win which came here over 4f further off a mark of 108 (also a C&D winner, two years before). In fair placed form over the summer but disappointed in first-time cheekpieces (removed here) last time; chance on best form.

Form: 466337

Scripturient^b,t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: J Hodge| OR: 94

16/1

Landed a gamble for his former yard (Gavin Cromwell) over fences last summer at Stratford; remains his only success. Form since then has been poor including twice for his current yard; hard to fashion a case for him here on recent evidence.

Form: 816P-P9

Jackhammer^h,t⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 87

11/1

Capable of some useful Flat form in the past (winner on debut) but has gradually regressed in that sphere; dropped quickly in the weights. Made his handicap debut here recently having shown little over hurdles; jumped poorly and dropped 5lb.

Form: 8-905

Life Knowledge^b¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J Kington| T: A Crook| OR: 87

10/1

Not disgraced on his first outing for this yard on the AW having won over 1m4f on the AW previously. Still a maiden over hurdles though and his last run in the summer over obstacles didn't really show him at his best; career-low hurdles mark now.

Form: 24/666-7

Hellavashock^p²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Craig Nichol| T: A C Whillans| OR: 86

28/1

Career record on the Flat stands at 0-21 and it's hard to say he's much better than that over hurdles despite limited exposure in this sphere. Now in a change of headgear after being pulled up on handicap debut last time and dropped 5lb.

Form: P/37P

Painters Lad³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Callum Bewley| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 82

33/1

Given a mark for handicaps after his 4th start (beaten 50L plus two completed starts) he failed to take any advantage and was pulled up at Carlisle over 2m3f having offered little. His random mark is now reduced by a further 5lb; hard to recommend.

Form: 85/P5-PP

Rioja Day^p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 77| CD

3/1

A five-time Flat winner he finally sprang to life over C&D when well-backed under today's rider with cheekpieces on for the first-time over hurdles (4lb out the weights). Trainer could offer no explanation for the improved form; still fairly treated.

Form: 6U55/71

Rapid Fritz^t²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 63

40/1

Suffered a third consecutive fall last time out getting no further than the first for the second hurdles outing in a row. Looks set for another struggle (assuming he jumps round) from 8lb out of the handicap here.

Form: 045FFF

Non-Runners

Thepensionfund⁵¹

Weight: 12-3| Age: 6

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: Blair Campbell

Forecasts

Spin The Coin (6/4), Rioja Day (3/1), Thepensionfund (5/1), Life Knowledge (10/1), Jackhammer (11/1), Dance Of Fire (11/1), Smart Ruler (11/1), Scripturient (16/1), Hellavashock (28/1), Painters Lad (33/1), Rapid Fritz (40/1)

The fact that Rioja Day can be given a good chance to follow up his C&D win here 26 days ago shows how weak this handicap is. He’s once again due to be ridden by the good young conditional Danny McMenamin and runs from his correct mark this time on ground that should suit. SPIN THE COIN may just have a little more to offer having shown that he had a future in handicaps when falling at the last on his debut in this sphere with the race at his mercy. He looked to need his first run back and has now had wind op (tongue-tie also added), he’s taken to enhance his trainers 19% record with his hurdlers here. Thepensionfund and Smart Ruler are two others to note.