13:40 Musselburgh

Wednesday 1 January 2020

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

Betway 'Auld Reekie' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:41 | Winning time: 5m 16.0s

Nuts Well²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 140

10/1

Regained the winning thread in some style when taking advantage of a reduced mark to score by 15-length at Wetherby (1m7f; soft). Been put up 10lbs for that though, and this is a particularly competitive affair.

Form: 46-5441

Indian Temple⁵³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T Reed| OR: 140| CD

28/1

C&D winner whose reappearance effort in this grade at Aintree (2m4f; soft) was highly disappointing when he finished a distant last of those who finished. Form has somewhat tailed off the last thrice, so he needs to bounce back.

Form: 112U48

Fixed Rate^p,t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann| OR: 139| D

6/1

Posted an excellent comeback effort on his seasonal reappearance when losing unbeaten record over fences to the upwardly-mobile Sammy Bill at Aintree (2m4f; good to soft). Still very unexposed up 4lbs, and has a likeable profile.

Form: P/3911-2

Western Miller^p,t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Tom Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 137| D

33/1

Steps back up in trip after finishing down the field at Newbury (2m; good to soft) on return from a short break. Stable tend to do well at this track with a 24% strike-rate (7-29), but he is 7lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 2-611P8

Get Out The Gate¹⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Callum Bewley| T: J S Goldie| OR: 135| C

10/1

Course winner over the smaller obstacles, and he had been enjoying a fruitful first season over obstacles this summer. However, his last two efforts have been disappointing and he hasn't been seen since July. Stiff enough mark for what he has done.

Form: 3-11469

Amalfi Doug³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 133| D

20/1

Impressive run of form came to an end when he was pulled-up at Haydock (3m1f; good to soft). Is versatile ground-wise, and despite being 8lb above his last winning mark it would be no surprise if he were to bounce back and get involved.

Form: 22113P

Copper West⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: W T Kennedy| T: T R George| OR: 131| D

9/1

Finished in front of Indian Temple (8th) when fifth at Aintree (2m4f; soft) on his second run of this season. Unchanged mark, and his profile would suggest he prefers faster ground. Wouldn't want any rain for him to have an outside chance.

Form: 11-3415

Dimple⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 130| D

20/1

Resumed this season in the same manner he finished it when pulled-up before 2 out on seasonal reappearance at Wetherby (2m3f; good to soft) in October. Still 7lb above last winning mark, and difficult to enthuse over when in current form.

Form: 1114P-P

As You Like³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 129

11/2

Has failed to finish out of the placings on any of his last nine starts. Mark remains unchanged from his most recent run when third at Newbury (2m6f; good to soft). Drops back in trip and difficult to see him out of the frame.

Form: 2-21123

Lake Takapuna^v¹⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Alexander| T: J Ewart| OR: 128

33/1

Ex-Irish sort who makes stable debut for new connections, and he would need to improve a fair bit upon his latest effort when midfield at Galway (2m2f; soft) back in August. Interesting to see if there is any market support for him.

Form: 4429-16

Cool Mix^h⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Ross Chapman| T: I Jardine| OR: 127| D

17/2

Dropped a further 3lb for finishing a distant fifth on his second start of this campaign at Wetherby (2m3f; soft). Struggling for form at present, but yard are enjoying a 30% strike-rate at present which offers some hope.

Form: 2217-65

Cracking Destiny³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Alain Cawley| T: A C Whillans| OR: 125| C| D

6/1

Slammed Sporting Press when winning over 2m at this track on his seasonal return to action in November. 10lb higher in the weights and is worse off with that rival now though. Could be more to come from him on just second start for this yard.

Form: 13143-1

Murphy's Law³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 124| D

10/1

Only had the four starts over fences, but he was beaten when taking a heavy fall at the last at Newcastle (2m7f; heavy) last time out. Needs to prove his wellbeing after that, but has been given enough time to recover.

Form: 15131F

Sporting Press^h²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 112| CD

6/1

C&D winner (March 2019) who has a good record over fences, and has posted a pair of more encouraging efforts the last twice over 2m at this track. Form of his latest run has since been franked and he is back down to his last winning mark.

Form: 3-53P22

Forecasts

As You Like (11/2), Cracking Destiny (6/1), Sporting Press (6/1), Fixed Rate (6/1), Cool Mix (17/2), Copper West (9/1), Nuts Well (10/1), Murphy's Law (10/1), Get Out The Gate (10/1), Amalfi Doug (20/1), Dimple (20/1), Indian Temple (28/1), Western Miller (33/1), Lake Takapuna (33/1)

A good turnout for the 2020 renewal of this race, with As You Like likely to prove popular given the form he has been in over fences this year. He showed improved form when third in a competitive staying handicap chase at Newbury, and should be thereabouts. It would be dangerous to dismiss Sporting Press who is threatening to take advantage of his reduced mark. The form of his latest run when second behind Defi Sacre has since been franked. However, it is hard to get away from FIXED RATE who bumped into a race-fit rival when second to the improving Sammy Bill on his seasonal return. He looked to hold bundles of potential in winning both his two chases last season.