15:15 Musselburgh

Thursday 2 May 2019

All13:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:5016:2517:00

Watch Racing TV Now Handicap

Off time: 15:17 | Winning time: 59.55s

(6)

Frank's Law^p1²²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 58

15/2

Orientor gelding; three quick runs over the course of a month (Hamilton 5f-6f) yielded little in late 2018; makes his handicap debut wearing cheekpieces; stablemate of Brahma Kamal.

Form: 868-

(7)

De Latour^b⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Sebastian Woods⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ward| OR: 58

7/2

Ex-Irish (Ger Lyons); seven-race maiden; nearest at the finish when beaten just under 5L by Annabelle Rock at Dundalk (6f) in March; stable debut.

Form: 85-6684

(8)

Popping Corks³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 56

11/1

Edged out You Little Beauty by ½L in a low-key 6f AW nursery at Newcastle in November 2018; hasn't improved since and the handicapper probably has her measure.

Form: 519-630

(1)

The Defiant²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: K Stott| T: P T Midgley| OR: 55| D

5/2

4lb higher than when beating Sing Bertie by ½L at Wolverhampton (5f) in February; yet to produce the goods on turf, albeit one worthy of consideration for sprint-master Paul Midgley.

Form: 6074-16

(3)

She'zanarab¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 54

5/1

Seven-race maiden; difficult to ascertain what is exactly her most suitable trip having raced over 7f at Newcastle and 6f at Redcar in her last three racecourse appearances; risky.

Form: 479-675

(4)

Slieve Donard^b³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: S A Gray| T: N Wilson| OR: 50

13/2

Seven-race maiden; has shown precious little in the way of ability (5f-6f) and difficult to make a constructive case as a result; look elsewhere.

Form: 00600-9

(5)

Brahma Kamal⁷³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 46

8/1

Equiano gelding; starts off life in handicaps from a lowly base (46); possible that he'll leave his previous form in the past sooner or later, but merely a watching brief at the moment; stablemate of Frank's Law.

Form: 75-9

(2)

Liberty Diva¹⁹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: J P Sullivan| T: A Berry| OR: 45

80/1

Beaten miles on her sole start over today's trip at Newcastle in October 2018; feasible that she'll appreciate the switch back to turf, although is essentially a selling plater; makes little appeal.

Form: 04500-

Forecasts

The Defiant (5/2), De Latour (7/2), She'zanarab (5/1), Slieve Donard (13/2), Frank's Law (15/2), Brahma Kamal (8/1), Popping Corks (11/1), Liberty Diva (80/1)

A low-grade sprint, and a race where the vast majority are confidently dismissed. Paul Midgley saddles the Wolverhampton winner The Defiant who is yet to deliver on turf, but must be massively respected in a contest as weak as today's. The Keith Dalgleish-trained pair Frank's Law and Brahma Kamal can feasibly come good in handicaps, but unless the market speaks with confidence are only horses to monitor at present. Therefore, the default position is to stick with the former Irish-racer DE LATOUR who was on the premises at Dundalk in March.