14:15 Musselburgh

Wednesday 1 January 2020

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

Betway Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 3m 43.50s

Snookered^p²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 142| D

12/1

Is on a roll and is now bidding for a five-timer after scoring comfortably again at Wetherby (2m; soft) last month. A further 9lb rise demands even more from him, but progress doesn't look like coming to a halt at the moment.

Form: 24-1111

L'Inganno Felice^h³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Ross Chapman| T: I Jardine| OR: 142| D

33/1

Well-beaten fourth at Southwell (1m4f; standard) on the level when last seen. Failed to complete on his last two starts over obstacles. Still 7lb above the mark he scored off when winning at Market Rasen (2m; good) in July. Too much to prove.

Form: 1/111P-U

Project Bluebook^p³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 139| CD

8/1

One of a few in this race who have not tasted success for quite a while. Last win over hurdles came in April 2017, but his mark is stiff enough as he never really runs too badly. Two C&D wins to his name.

Form: 0-227P6

Sir Chauvelin¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Callum Bewley| T: J S Goldie| OR: 129| CD

5/1

Triple C&D winner who has been running on the flat more regularly of late. Not been seen over hurdles for 620 days when he was well-beaten in the Scottish Champion Hurdle. 5lb lower than that now but others look more solid.

Form: 138140/

Newtown Boy^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 129| D

20/1

Denied the in-form Informateur when a game winner at Haydock (2m3f; soft) last time out. Up 4lb for what was a narrow victory, but he has only had six starts over hurdles and may be open to further improvement.

Form: 24-U151

Normal Norman²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Alain Cawley| T: J Ryan| OR: 128| CD

5/1

Scored on the flat at Kempton (1m; standard to slow) last month when dropping back markedly in trip. C&D winner has first start over hurdles since being pulled-up when set a stiff task in the Triumph Hurdle. Looks as though he can be competitive.

Form: 12713P-

Peter The Mayo Man^t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton| OR: 125| D

10/1

5lb below his last winning mark over hurdles which came all the way back in November 2016. Not been showing very enthusiastic signs of late though in competitive handicap hurdles at Newbury and Cheltenham. Can be confidently ruled out.

Form: 1/PF-780

Aristo Du Plessis^p⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Lucy Alexander| T: J Ewart| OR: 121| BF| CD

20/1

Not won for over a year, but likes it here (dual C&D winner). Mark is beginning to look an attractive one as a result of quiet recent performances. Shown more encouraging signs the last twice so has place claims.

Form: 4505-45

Ashington⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: B S Hughes| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 121| CD

6/4

Followed-up maiden victory over hurdles when justifying long odds-on favouritism (sent off 4-11f) to score over C&D by seven-length in November. Now makes handicap debut off a fair enough mark, and he is completely unexposed. Looks the one to beat.

Form: 211

Fisher Green^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 119| CD

16/1

Three-time course winner who finished a fair way behind Snookered at Wetherby (2m; soft) last time out. Return to this track is a positive, but he is yet to win off a mark as high as this so has place claims at best.

Form: P-21015

Never Be Enough²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 110| D

40/1

Offered plenty of promise, despite the form not looking the strongest in her first two starts over hurdles. However, she has been bitterly disappointing since switched to handicap company the last twice and needs to improve markedly to feature here.

Form: 1297

Forecasts

Ashington (6/4), Sir Chauvelin (5/1), Normal Norman (5/1), Project Bluebook (8/1), Peter The Mayo Man (10/1), Snookered (12/1), Fisher Green (16/1), Newtown Boy (20/1), Aristo Du Plessis (20/1), L'Inganno Felice (33/1), Never Be Enough (40/1)

An extremely competitive renewal of this contest, with the handicap newcomer Ashington ticking a lot of boxes after he won with authoritative ease over C&D most recently. As much as he has going for him, the strength of his novice hurdle form doesn't look the strongest. Therefore, preference is for NEWTOWN BOY who denied the strong challenge of the well-fancied Informateur when bouncing back to form last time. A 4lb rise for that looks fair enough, and he is still lightly raced after just the six hurdle starts. Snookered should also have a part to play as he goes in search of a fifth straight win after looking as though he had more to offer when winning at Wetherby.