14:50 Musselburgh

Wednesday 1 January 2020

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

Betway Heed Your Hunch Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 6.60s

Highway Companion^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 107

3/1

Still to win in two starts since switched to handicap company. However, the form of both of those defeats has been smart. Has to feature high on the shortlist given he is still unexposed and looks well capable of winning a race of this nature.

Form: 25-3445

Pat's Pearl^p,t²⁰⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 107| D

10/1

Makes return from 200-day absence, and was in the process of running a big race prior to falling five out when last seen at Downpatrick (2m7f; yielding). Market probably the best guide to her chances with fitness to prove.

Form: 80-213F

Lostock Hall²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Bourke| OR: 106

11/1

Gradually improved throughout last season, and that culminated in a third hurdle success of his career on his final start of the season at Newcastle (2m; good to soft). Not disgraced on seasonal return, and could have a say back up in trip.

Form: 07521-4

Rollerruler^t⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 105

10/1

One of the more lightly raced sorts in this contest, and there were definite signs of promise when he failed to fully stay the trip at Kelso (2m6f; heavy) on seasonal reappearance last time out. Claims as he drops back down to 2m4f.

Form: 3453P-5

Gemologist^t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 104

16/1

23-race maiden (hurdles/flat) and it was frustrating to see her take another backwards step when finishing in midfield after a very promising run here two starts ago. Needs to bounce back and difficult task to reverse form with Pammi.

Form: 324-227

Pammi²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 102

6/1

Built upon encouraging handicap debut at Ayr (2m4f; heavy) on her penultimate start when a staying-on third over C&D last month. Mark remains the same, and she has solid claims of going close if able to reproduce that form.

Form: 3353

Getaway Gerry²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: K Scott| OR: 102

33/1

Had only shown very minor promise in novice hurdles prior to making a majorly low-key handicap debut when tailed-off at Kelso (2m; soft) last month. Was pulled-up when struggling the time before that, and despite the 5lb lower mark he is opposed.

Form: 77-28P0

Lastofthecosmics^t³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum Bewley| T: I Jardine| OR: 93

12/1

Posted a much more promising effort on his penultimate star when runner-up over 2m at this track, but failed to build upon that when a well-beaten sixth when stepped up to this trip last time out. Needs to prove his stamina after that.

Form: 5-56036

Connective^p1,t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 92

10/1

Form of the yard is of major concern, and he has enough to prove anyway given how disappointing he has been in his three handicap starts so far. Been dropped another 5lb for failing to make any impression at Market Rasen (2m; soft) last month.

Form: 663P07

Not The Chablis^p³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 92

11/2

Yet to win in seven attempts over hurdles, and he didn't run as well as his finishing position would suggest when fourth over slightly further here recently. Dropped another 4lb but he is upped slightly in grade now.

Form: 6349-P4

Chosen Flame²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 90

7/1

Support for him in the market but that failed to materialise to anything on the track when he failing on promising recent Ayr (2m3f; heavy) second at Kelso (2m6f; soft) when fifth. Now needs to bounce back & stable going through a quiet spell.

Form: 65P-925

Frame Rate^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 89| CD

12/1

Shed maiden tag over C&D back in March and is 9lb below that mark now. Has had a lot of racing this year, and despite finishing fifth over C&D last time, he failed to cause much of a threat. Risky in current form.

Form: 459U95

Forecasts

Highway Companion (3/1), Not The Chablis (11/2), Pammi (6/1), Chosen Flame (7/1), Connective (10/1), Rollerruler (10/1), Pat's Pearl (10/1), Lostock Hall (11/1), Lastofthecosmics (12/1), Frame Rate (12/1), Gemologist (16/1), Getaway Gerry (33/1)

One of the more lower-graded races on the card with Pammi considered after she posted an improved performance over C&D last time out on what was just her second start in a handicap. Rollerruler ran better than his finishing position would suggest when just failing to see out the trip last time out, but he should feature prominently returned to 2m4f. The selection is HIGHWAY COMPANION though, who despite failing to win in two starts since switched to the handicap sphere, the form of those two races is decent. This looks a weaker contest on paper than either of those previous two assignments and he should be up to winning this off top-weight.