13:15 Musselburgh

Wednesday 6 November 2019

All12:4013:1513:4514:2014:5015:2515:55

ESPC Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 5m 20.87s

Sometimes A Fox²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-1| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 107

25/1

May have been in need of the outing on seasonal/stable debut when finishing last of 11 runners at Hexham (2m4f; soft) last month. 5lb lower now, but is upped slightly in grade. Interesting if market speaks in his favour.

Form: 32/705-0

The Road Home^p,t¹⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 104| CWS

3/1

In consistent form prior to pulling-up at Hexham (3m; good) in May. Not seen since then, and his record when fresh (0-2) would suggest he will be in need of this seasonal reappearance. Appealing alternatives can be found elsewhere.

Form: 5P232-P

Benny's Secret^h,t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 103

9/2

Produced a rather mild effort on seasonal debut at Kelso (2m1f; good to soft) recently. Progressed well last season, but that was over hurdles and he is 0-4 over fences. Has some convincing to do.

Form: 2321-75

Simply Mani²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Henry Brooke| T: P D Niven| OR: 95

6/1

13-race maiden dropped a further 3lb in the handicap for finishing seventh at Huntingdon (3m1f; good) on second run of this season. Now makes debut over fences, but a couple of his rivals possess slightly stronger claims.

Form: 7-54337

Choochoobugaloo^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 93

7/2

Made good strides as a hurdler last season before being beaten just a neck at Sedgefield (2m; good) on her chasing debut. Looked in need of the run when second on seasonal reappearance at Uttoxeter. Plenty of potential now sent back over fences.

Form: 33192-2

Izzy's Champion^t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 93

11/1

Didn't show any improvement for the switch to handicaps last season, and the way he ran on seasonal debut at Kelso (2m5f; soft) was concerning. Now makes chase debut, but can only be watched on all he has shown so far.

Form: 359-730

Catch My Drift^t³²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 90

8/1

Still looking for his first career success after 24 starts. Only had the three tries over fences, but he would need to improve to feature in this on the bare form of his latest fifth at Fontwell (2m3f; good).

Form: 374-735

Eagle Ridge¹⁹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 89

18/1

Very hard to fancy, on what is his chasing/seasonal debut, given the heavy defeats he has suffered over hurdles, including since being switched to handicaps. Was beaten a mile when last seen at Perth (2m4f; good to soft). On a retrieval mission.

Form: 3P/7870-

Pc Dixon²²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 88

12/1

Three-race maiden over the larger obstacles, and didn't achieve an overly high level of form in any of those runs. Now makes seasonal return. More exposed than his rivals, and unlikely he will prove better than what he has shown so far over fences.

Form: 4663P5-

Barfly^v1¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 84

22/1

Really struggled when pulled-up at Kelso (3m; good to soft) most recently. Now sports a first-time visor, but it is difficult to know what to expect after the manner of his latest defeat. Likely to make the running.

Form: 1PP-63P

Forecasts

The Road Home (3/1), Choochoobugaloo (7/2), Benny's Secret (9/2), Simply Mani (6/1), Catch My Drift (8/1), Izzy's Champion (11/1), Pc Dixon (12/1), Eagle Ridge (18/1), Barfly (22/1), Sometimes A Fox (25/1)

This is a difficult puzzle to solve, with the vote firmly shaded in favour of the consistent CHOOCHOOBUGALOO. The selection enjoyed a productive time of things last season, and almost made the perfect transition to fences when narrowly beaten into second at the end of that campaign. With a reappearance run under her belt, she can make it second time lucky over the larger obstacles. Although he is 0-4 over fences, Benny's Secret must be respected as he steps back up to 2m4f, while another chance must be given to top-weight Sometimes A Fox. His seasonal/stable debut can be forgiven and he must hold solid place claims on just his second start for this yard.