17:00 Musselburgh

Thursday 2 May 2019

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

racingtv.com Handicap

Off time: 17:03 | Winning time: 1m 54.46s

(5)

Spark Of War³⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 65

9/1

All his turf form has come on soft/heavy so he'll need to cope with this quicker surface having stripped well enough when last seen; has another large absence to deal with. Lightly-raced so could progress (now gelded); positive market vibes needed.

Form: 436/9-

(1)

Edgar Allan Poe⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: D Allan| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 65| D

5/1

Scored at Hamilton in September backing up off a one day break (had run well the day before) over 1m1f, soft. Continued to run well without winning after that; well below form on his return (no great record fresh); possible he'll bounce back.

Form: 41236-0

(6)

Restive²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Phil Dennis| T: J S Goldie| OR: 62| C

11/2

Course winner (1m6f) off a 1lb higher mark last September; has shaped well this year over longer trips than he faces here (tongue-tie on last three starts). Faces an inadequate test of stamina here with the tongue-tie left off; strange placing.

Form: 5-66345

(3)

Remember Rocky^p²⁰³

Age: 10| Weight: 9-4| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs L B Normile| OR: 62| D

33/1

Failed to win last year but did produce some sound performances towards the end of the season (ran exclusively at Ayr). Can look rather lazy on occasions but ought to be capable off this mark although a return of one win since 2015 does urge caution.

Form: 342392-

(4)

La Sioux³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Sebastian Woods⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 61

5/1

Back on turf after running on the AW through the winter with her mark declining in the process in that sphere. Has a 10lb higher turf mark but almost back down to her last winning one; chance of repeating her recent Tapeta third over this trip.

Form: 87-5743

(8)

Foxy Lady^p⁷¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: S A Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 60| D

25/1

Her latest two breaks have come off absences so arriving here off a break should not prove to be a disadvantage to her chance. Her latest success came in a selling handicap off a 2lb lower mark; not in the same form last time, hope if bouncing back.

Form: 0100-18

(2)

Haymarket^t1²⁹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 8-12| J: B A Curtis| T: R M Smith| OR: 56| CD

25/1

Veteran handicapper who looks on the wane now; unable to repeat his three win 2017 last year with the handicapper reluctant to cut him much slack. Did too much too soon when last seen; tongue-tie goes on first-time; has won over C&D.

Form: 688823-

(9)

Cosmic Ray^h¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: J Fanning| T: J L Eyre| OR: 54| CD

11/8

May be looking to use similar tactics that saw him blaze back to form last time making all at Nottingham over 1m2f at Nottingham (looked to have raced too freely). Dual course winner (one over C&D) off higher marks; dangerous with an unopposed lead.

Form: 00-0071

(7)

Jackhammer^b,t¹⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 50

20/1

Just the one Flat win to his name that coming on his debut over 7f, soft back in 2016 with plenty of defeats in handicaps since then at various trips. Chance based on his second at Catterick last year over 7f; has been hurdling of late (modest form).

Form: 006624-

Forecasts

Cosmic Ray (11/8), La Sioux (5/1), Edgar Allan Poe (5/1), Restive (11/2), Spark Of War (9/1), Jackhammer (20/1), Haymarket (25/1), Foxy Lady (25/1), Remember Rocky (33/1)

The draw that COSMIC RAY has been handed won’t make it easy for him to lead (appears to be his preferred tactics) but if he does get to the front he could well replicate his Nottingham form (fourth won on Tuesday at Newcastle) around a course that favours front runners off a favourable mark. La Sioux will be a danger though as she has worked her way back down to be near the mark that she last won off. Edgar Allan Poe represents a trainer who does well here and he should go better with a run now tucked away with Foxy Lady another who can get involved returning from a break that often refreshes.