12:30 Musselburgh

Wednesday 1 January 2020

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

Betway First Foot Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 12:30 | Winning time: 3m 47.80s

El Picador²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 116| CD

7/4

Progressed from encouraging rules debut over C&D in November to go one better when winning a weak contest, again over C&D, last time out. Should make bold bid to follow-up in what looks an uncompetitive race.

Form: 21

Extreme Force¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| D

9/2

Created a deep impression on hurdles debut when a ready three-length winner of a Catterick (2m; good to soft) juvenile hurdle recently. Had some of today's rivals in behind him, and this contest looks to concern him and El Picador.

Form: 1

Balranald^t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum Bewley| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

25/1

Has finished behind El Picador on both hurdles starts to date (both times over C&D), including last time when taking a slight backwards step when only fifth. Needs to step up, and looks to have place claims at best.

Form: 35

Beat Box¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart

20/1

Behind Extreme Force (1st) and Sea Art (6th) when finishing eighth on hurdles debut at Catterick (2m; good to soft). Difficult to see him reversing that form, and he looks to be the type to be of more interest when entering handicaps.

Form: 8

Dequall⁹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd

50/1

Only fourth in a moderate contest on hurdles debut at Perth (2m; heavy) in September. However, that was his first run in over a year and he is entitled to come on a fair bit from that. This is a hot race though.

Form: 4

Dynali²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: Ian Williams

17/2

Improved markedly from underwhelming hurdles debut to just miss out on making the frame at Market Rasen (2m; soft) at the start of the month. That race was won by the subsequently Grade 2-placed Lord Lamington, and he should be thereabouts.

Form: 34

Never Do Nothing¹¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: J C McConnell

2/1

Talented on the flat (OR 91), and now makes stable debut for new Irish connections who do well with such types. Stable have a 50% strike-rate when sending runners to this track (1-2) and he is an extremely interesting contender.

Form:

Sea Art¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Ross Chapman| T: J & S Quinn

8/1

Was fancied (sent off 9/4) prior to finishing sixth at Catterick (2m; good to soft) recently in a race won by Extreme Force. That rival had the benefit of experience, but he still looks to have a huge task on to reverse the form.

Form: 6

Non-Runners

Sleepdancer¹²

Weight: 10-12| Age: 4

T: J Ryan J: Alain Cawley

The Furrows End¹⁸

Weight: 10-12| Age: 4

T: E De Giles J: Non Runner

Forecasts

El Picador (7/4), Never Do Nothing (2/1), Extreme Force (9/2), Sea Art (8/1), Dynali (17/2), Beat Box (20/1), The Furrows End (20/1), Balranald (25/1), Dequall (50/1), Sleepdancer (100/1)

This opening juvenile hurdles looks to concern the only two previous winners in the contest who have to shoulder a penalty. Extreme Force caused somewhat of a surprise when winning with such ease for a 28-1 shot at Catterick on hurdles debut, and he should be bang there again. However, EL PICADOR holds valuable C&D form to his name, and he stepped up on his hurdles debut to go one better when coming home a nine-length winner when last seen. As for the remainder, Never Do Nothing was the highest rated in this field on the level, and he represents a shrewd Irish operation who tend to do well with their runners on these shores. He should have a bright future over hurdles.