16:15 Musselburgh

Tuesday 15 October 2019

All14:0514:4015:1015:4516:1516:5017:25

Every Race Live On RacingTV Handicap

Off time: 16:21 | Winning time: 3m 53.46s

(2)

Normal Norman³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: D Allan| T: J Ryan| OR: 76| BF| CD

2/1

Winner of two bumpers and two hurdle races, the latest success coming at this track. Solid fifth on Flat bow here over a mile last time and should be better suited by this much stiffer test of stamina.

Form: 36-25

(8)

Ballynanty^t¹³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 75| C

50/1

Showed useful form at this trip three years ago but campaigned mainly over hurdles ast two season, winning 3m h'cap here in January. Returns from 136-day break and is 2lb lower than when unplaced over 1m6f here in June.

Form: 5050/6-6

(10)

Astute Boy^p,t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: J P Sullivan| T: R M Smith| OR: 70

50/1

Showed progressive staying handicap form a couple of years ago but has focused on hurdling for the most part since then. Well beaten back on the Flat in decent staying handicap at Ayr last month and has been dropped 4lb.

Form: 125/27-0

(9)

Maulesden May²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: G Lee| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 69| C

40/1

Six-time Flat winner at up to 1m4f, but facing a new challenge at this much longer trip. Not in the best of form of late and eased 5lb and has stamina to prove, especially if they go a decent clip.

Form: 166568

(4)

Tor³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: D Tudhope| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 69| C

9/2

Fair staying handicapper in his time winning 1m6f Caledonia Cup at this track in 2017 off 16lb higher mark. Has failed to shine last 12 months and makes debut for new yard with something to prove. Jockey booking a positive sign though.

Form: 455464

(6)

Arthurs Secret¹⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: A M Thomson| OR: 68| C| D

20/1

Has won over 2m on the Flat and landed Ayr 3m handicap hurdle in February. Not seen since May but can go well fresh so any market support might prove noteworthy.

Form: 474312/

(3)

Shrewd^v1²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Harrison Shaw⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 67| CD

9/1

Third off 95 in Cesarewitch Trial Handicap at Newmarket two years ago but has completely lost his way since those heights. First-time visor now applied in bid to spark a revival but has a lot to prove at present.

Form: 058700

(11)

Bodacious Name¹²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 67| D

11/2

Thorough stayer who won twice at Pontefract over 2m2f last term. Returns from four-month break but not out of it off current mark and has run creditably fresh in the past.

Form: 11-5446

(7)

Gripper^p⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Rhona Pindar⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 67

66/1

Made all to land Chelmsford 1m6f h'cap last term for Ralph Beckett but out of sorts over hurdles this summer, pulling up on two of last three outings. Back from six-week break so worth a glance for any market confidence.

Form: 265317-

(1)

Beechwood Jude^p²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 73

3/1

Won Carlisle 1m3f h'cap in June and not disgraced when fourth of 14 at Ayr last time over 1m5f. Worth a try at this longer trip for shrewd yard and has top man on board. Interesting.

Form: 961254

Non-Runners

(5)

Lyford²⁵

Weight: 8-9| Age: 4

T: A C Whillans J: A Mullen

Forecasts

Normal Norman (2/1), Beechwood Jude (3/1), Tor (9/2), Bodacious Name (11/2), Shrewd (9/1), Lyford (16/1), Arthurs Secret (20/1), Maulesden May (40/1), Astute Boy (50/1), Ballynanty (50/1), Gripper (66/1)

BEECHWOOD JUDE, the only three-year-old in the field, looks of interest stepping up to this trip for the first time for a strong trainer-jockey combination. He remains open to improvement. Many of his rivals are struggling for form of late, including the once decent Tor, but Normal Norman is a danger despite the steadier of top weight as he steps up to what may be a more suitable trip than the mile last time. Bodacious Name and Arthurs Sceret both return from a break but cannot be ruled out of the equation if the market indicates they are ready to do themself justice.