17:00 Musselburgh

Friday 6 September 2019

All16:2517:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:30

Cala Homes (East) Ltd Handicap

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 3m 0.84s

(1)

Battle Of Marathon¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: B A Curtis| T: J Ryan| OR: 72

12/1

Best recent effort when second in a 'hands and heels' apprentices race at Yarmouth last month but not much impression in two better races since; decline has been steady but consistent since he left Aidan O'Brien four years ago.

Form: 745248

(6)

Remember The Days¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 71

11/1

Kept to the Flat this year but folded tamely when headed at Pontefract last month, bringing to an end a resurgence in form; never won over this trip in this sphere but stamina not really an issue. Still a stiff test giving weight to all bar one.

Form: 462327

(5)

Tor³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Jamie Gormley| T: I Jardine| OR: 70| CD

12/5

Mixed form this season but yet to really threaten to add to his tally of five previous wins on the Flat. Has a C&D win to his name but possible he needs more cut in the ground these days and others look better suited to the conditions.

Form: 845546

(2)

Stormin Tom⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 68| D

9/1

Was a game winner at Ripon in early August and still on a handy mark; but never landed a blow last time and only ran on to be a modest third in the closing stages. This isn't much tougher but the gelding's recent lack of consistency is a big worry.

Form: 048413

(7)

Corton Lad^p,t⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: S A Gray| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 67| C

7/1

Holding his form; was only headed inside the final furlong from this mark at Hamilton last week and possible the heavy ground was a bit of an anchor; had previously won well over 1m5f here, so top marks on recent efforts. Player.

Form: 545413

(9)

Kaizer⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Izzy Clifton⁽⁷⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 55

85/40

Confidence boosted with a win over hurdles before reverting to the Flat and posting a solid run over C&D last time out. Unexposed at the trip (this is only his third run in a Flat handicap) and is up in grade but might still be more to come.

Form: 77793

(8)

Pammi^p⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: P Mathers| T: J S Goldie| OR: 48

14/1

A low-grade handicapper but has shown some improvement since tried in cheekpieces (left off last time but now back in place after a near miss over 2m2f here). Never won over this trip but gone close over similar; place claims if at her best.

Form: 645633

(10)

Gemologist^t⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 47

14/1

Still a maiden but not much to find with Pammi from last time and the drop in trip might be more in her favour now she's topped up her fitness. Still needs to post a career best, though.

Form: 8684-55

(3)

Enemy Of The State^p⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 45

66/1

Has run well here before but generally only posted only poor form so far and has to be a concern that he's now with his fifth yard since last June; others readily preferred.

Form: 898008

Non-Runners

(4)

Joie De Vivre³²

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: M Todhunter J: K Stott

Forecasts

Kaizer (85/40), Tor (12/5), Corton Lad (7/1), Stormin Tom (9/1), Remember The Days (11/1), Battle Of Marathon (12/1), Joie De Vivre (12/1), Gemologist (14/1), Pammi (14/1), Enemy Of The State (66/1)

A modest race that ought to be within reach for CORTON LAD given his recent form and he gets the nod in preference to Kaizer, who is unexposed for a race like this but does need to take another step forward. Remember The Days has decent place claims on the pick of his form but needs to bounce back from a poor run last time out. Stormin Tom isn't very consistent but is capable at this level and could also be good value to sneak a place in the frame.