15:25 Musselburgh

Wednesday 1 January 2020

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

Betway Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 6m 18.7s

Shanroe In Milan⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 117| D

6/1

Mark has dropped down to the one he scored off at Doncaster in January 2018. In mixed form since then though, and he finished last of the five that finished when fifth at Ludlow (3m1f; soft) on second run of his season.

Form: 56/3U-35

Benny's Secret^h,t²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 115| C

4/1

Shed maiden tag over shorter here on his penultimate start, and then backed that up with a fine second again over 2m4f at this track. Up 5lbs but the step up to 3m could unlock further improvement, and he has to be feared.

Form: 21-7512

Exit To Where^p,t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 108

6/1

Proving to be very inconsistent at the moment, as highlighted when he failed to back up promising runner-up effort at Ayr (2m4f; soft) two starts back when pulled-up at Sedgefield (3m2f; soft) last time. Record over fences now reads 0-6.

Form: 52-3U2P

No No Mac^b⁶⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: I A Duncan| OR: 105| CD

4/1

C&D winner in March. 6lb above that mark, but has been running well in defeat since then. Not beaten far into third over this trip at Ayr (3m; soft) on return from a short break in October. Holds a decent chance.

Form: 15-5233

Emirat De Catana⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 102| D

14/1

Managed to get round at Kelso (2m7f; heavy) after falling on chase debut the time before that but was ultimately disappointing in fourth. All of his best form is on faster ground, so he should appreciate the forecast conditions.

Form: 44-18F4

Diamond Rock⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 94

10/3

Steps up markedly in trip after running a particularly encouraging race over 2m here on his seasonal reappearance. Mark remains unchanged and a bold bid should be expected with the step up in trip offering the chance of further improvement.

Form: FP6-FP3

Lady London^p,t⁹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Alain Cawley| T: R Dobbin| OR: 92| CD

16/1

Makes return from 98-day break but goes well fresh and may have been inconvenienced by the drop back in trip when only fourth of six at Perth (2m4f; good to soft) last time out. Won over this distance before that, so has claims.

Form: 242P-14

Dun Faw Good²³

Age: 13| Weight: 10-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: J Walton| OR: 89| CD

8/1

C&D winner, but he could have shown a bit more spark when only fifth on seasonal return over C&D last month. 4lb below last winning mark, and is entitled to improve on second start of the season. Will need to though.

Form: 240345

Reverse The Charge^p⁴⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 10-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 87| D

33/1

Mark beginning to drop down to the one he scored off back at Hexham (2m4f; good) in March. There is a reason for that though, as highlighted when he was pulled-up when struggling at Catterick (2m3f; good to soft) recently.

Form: 75-145P

Forecasts

Diamond Rock (10/3), No No Mac (4/1), Benny's Secret (4/1), Shanroe In Milan (6/1), Exit To Where (6/1), Dun Faw Good (8/1), Emirat De Catana (14/1), Lady London (16/1), Reverse The Charge (33/1)

The final race of the day which can go the way of BENNY'S SECRET who after breaking his duck over fences here over 2m4f two starts ago followed that up with a fine second here over that same trip last month. He is still lightly raced over fences and so the step up in trip offers the possibility of more improvement. Similar comments apply to Diamond Rock who also steps up markedly in trip after going close over 2m at this track on his seasonal reappearance. The Charlie Longsdon stable tend to do well at this meeting, and despite the fact he has been out of form recently, Shanroe In Milan is respected.