15:25 Musselburgh

Wednesday 6 November 2019

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

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 3m 46.1s

Goldencard³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 118| D

15/8

Won at the fifth attempt in handicaps when a five-length winner at Kelso (2m; soft) last month. Up 7lb for that and brings strong form to the table so has to go close in his follow-up bid.

Form: 443-761

Prancing Oscar^p³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 117

12/1

Well-beaten by very well-fancied sorts since switched to handicap sphere. Not likely to bump into anything as obviously well-treated in this contest, but he does need to step up a bit. Still unexposed over hurdles.

Form: 3123

True Romance⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 115| C| D

11/4

Made an encouraging transition to hurdles over the summer in two starts with a win and a second. That good run of form has since been followed up on the flat, and he should be bang there on handicap debut.

Form: 12

Prince Khurram^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 111| D

16/1

Bounced back from heavy Kelso (2m; good) fall in style when winning at Bangor-on-dee (2m; soft) last month. Must enter calculations off the back of that effort. Won off a higher mark than this in the past.

Form: 9-822F1

Iconic Belle⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 110| CD

4/1

Latest effort on the level can be ruled out. Form of her runner-up effort at Perth (2m; good) when last seen over hurdles would bring her into this. Major claims if reproducing that level of form.

Form: 4F442-2

Crushed^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 104| D

16/1

Looked regressive since winning a Plumpton (2m; good) maiden hurdle back in May 2018 for Alan King. Record on soft ground (0-3) is also off-putting, and he is not one to place full trust in.

Form: 13587-7

Duck Egg Blue^h1¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J Kington| T: L Bailey| OR: 104| D

33/1

Been more consistent of late, but she has also refused to race on two of her last four starts, most recently at Southwell (2m; soft) last time out. Has shown she possesses ability though.

Form: 4133R

Wot A Shot¹²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 97| CD

12/1

Veteran who won over this C&D back in January. Hit and miss since that victory, and although he is respected, his profile suggests he will probably need the run on return from a 125-day break.

Form: 158-326

Gripper^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 92

16/1

Pulled-up over hurdles at Hexham (2m; good) in September. Showed a bit more at this track on the level when sixth over 2m last month on ground which is likely to be similar. Still has to prove himself over hurdles though.

Form: 439P4P

Non-Runners

Blooriedotcom³

Weight: 10-10| Age: 4

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Goldencard (15/8), True Romance (11/4), Iconic Belle (4/1), Wot A Shot (12/1), Prancing Oscar (12/1), Blooriedotcom (12/1), Prince Khurram (16/1), Gripper (16/1), Crushed (16/1), Duck Egg Blue (33/1)

An entertaining and informative contest in store, with Iconic Belle respected for Phillip Kirby given the decent level of form she showed earlier in the year both here and at Perth. Prince Khurram also has claims after resuming his progress with a recent win, though he isn't open to as much improvement as the unexposed True Romance who is a very likeable sort. The one they all have to beat though is GOLDENCARD. The selection produced a career-best when winning at Kelso in impressive fashion, and he can follow-up that success and deal with a 7lb hike in the weights.