13:45 Musselburgh

Wednesday 6 November 2019

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

Supporting Injured Jockeys Juvenile Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 3m 50.4s

Balranald^t1¹²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum Bewley| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

14/1

Foreign import who won a maiden on the flat at Cagnes-sur-mer (1m2f; standard) in France for Jean-Claude Rouget. Difficult to gauge the strength of his overall form. Watch out for positive market moves.

Form:

Bullion Boss⁶⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards

9/4

0-11 on the flat, but was largely consistent for most of those runs. Now starts new chapter for top national hunt yard, and is sent straight over hurdles. Handles soft ground. Check market vibes.

Form:

Burnage Boy²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond

6/1

No match for Maria Magdalena (8/15f) on his hurdles debut at Wetherby (2m; good to soft) most recently. Did fare best of the rest though, and therefore he must be respected on that form.

Form: 2

El Picador⁷⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish

4/1

Makes hurdles/stable debut after leaving Sir Michael Stoute. Highest rated horse in the line-up on the flat. Needs to transfer that ability to hurdles, but major chance if able to do so.

Form:

George Ridsdale²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: M & D Easterby

9/1

Ran better than the finishing positions would suggest when well-beaten into third on hurdles bow at Wetherby (2m; good to soft). Yard form is a concern, but he would have place claims again if running to a similar level.

Form: 3

Karasheni^v¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Cook| T: I Jardine

12/1

Was slammed by Robeam (13/8f) on his hurdles debut at Sedgefield (2m1f; soft) last month, but that rival is potentially smart. This looks slightly easier, and he has to be there or thereabouts.

Form: 3

Numero Uno²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

25/1

Six-race maiden on the flat who has failed to beat a single rival in handicaps the last twice. Best watched on hurdles bow, despite the good record his yard have at this track with jumpers.

Form:

Three Castles³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish

6/1

Showed a fair level of ability at a low level on the flat. Must be afforded respect coming from this yard who continue among the winners. Related to a 2m hurdle winner.

Form:

Wakool¹⁶⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander

7/1

Placed in maidens on the flat in France. Now makes seasonal/hurdles debut for new yard, who have done well with similar types in the past. Betting may be informative with this one.

Form:

Non-Runners

Glorious Dane²⁸

Weight: 10-12| Age: 3

T: M Walford J: Jamie Hamilton

Forecasts

Bullion Boss (9/4), El Picador (4/1), Burnage Boy (6/1), Three Castles (6/1), Wakool (7/1), George Ridsdale (9/1), Karasheni (12/1), Balranald (14/1), Glorious Dane (16/1), Numero Uno (25/1)

A juvenile maiden hurdle in which very few of these showed a great deal on the flat. There is also very little form over hurdles to go on. The ex-French newcomer Wakool is an interesting contender for Nick Alexander whose operation are beginning to hit their stride. It is likely that Nicky Richards will eke out improvement from Bullion Boss under this code on his first run for the yard. However, EL PICADOR was the highest rated of these on the flat (OR 75), and provided he can transfer some of that ability over to obstacles on his hurdles bow, he will be tough to beat for his in-form stable.