15:35 Musselburgh

Friday 3 January 2020

All12:2012:5013:2013:5514:2515:0015:35

Betway Casino Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 3m 48.23s

Abington Park²⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A KirbyWS

8/1

Full-brother to useful hurdler-chaser Avidity and hails from in-form combination. Ran green and plugged on for sixth on debut at Ayr (2m) and entitled to be better in time.

Form: 6

Blueskyandsunshine¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| BF

3/1

€90,000 three-year-old. Half-brother to useful staying hurdler Printing Dollars and comes from same family line as Denman. Modest fifth on debut at Catterick (2m) and may be better for this.

Form: 5

Elios D'Or³⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R D Day| T: N G RichardsWS

12/1

Shaped better than first feared when fifth of eight at Newcastle (2m) an returned lame from that effort. Not seen in nearly a year and has had wind op. Market check needed.

Form: 5-

Empty Quarter²⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Callum Bewley| T: A C Whillans

11/1

Exceeded market expectations when taking fourth in Ayr bumper eight months ago. Shaped like a stayer that day (pedigree suggests so) and may do better when hurdling.

Form: 4

Mr Toastie^t1

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V RussellWS

40/1

Gelding by Brian Boru whose dam was a winning pointer. Already had a wind op which is a concern and tongue-tie fitted for debut start. One of three in the race for the yard.

Form:

Not At Present

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling

11/4

€80,000 three-year-old. Dam was a winning pointer and half-sister to useful Colonel Braxton. yard have hit a purple patch and top-grade jockey is on board. Respected.

Form:

Style Nelson⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin

33/1

€65,000 purchase as a three-year-old who has a strong-looking pedigree, but bombed out on debut when sixth of seven at Ayr (2m) in November. Will need more.

Form: 6

Missy May

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

20/1

Shantou mare who has a staying pedigree. Mare was a winner for this yard up to 2m6f but looks second-choice on jockey bookings. Market check needed.

Form:

Diamond State

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

10/1

Gelding by Vision D'Etat who has intriguing French pedigree. Dam was a winner up to 1m3f so should stay but doesn't look obvious first-choice for trainer in this.

Form:

It'llcomein

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: R A Fahey

5/1

Wootton Bassett gelding. Half-brother to three winners on the flat, including 1m winner Starsic. Commands respect for top flat yard but not a guaranteed stayer.

Form:

Forecasts

Not At Present (11/4), Blueskyandsunshine (3/1), It'llcomein (5/1), Abington Park (8/1), Diamond State (10/1), Empty Quarter (11/1), Elios D'Or (12/1), Missy May (20/1), Style Nelson (33/1), Mr Toastie (40/1)

A trappy-looking bumper to end proceedings, preference is for BLUESKYANDSUNSHINE, who failed to reward favourite backers last time, however with experience under his belt there is every chance he will have come on significantly for that effort. The same can be said for Abington Park, who shaped very green on his first start and comes from a yard who have been flying over the festive period, while the modest-priced Not At Present cannot be ignored for a powerful jockey/trainer combination and looks their best hope of the day.