13:31 Musselburgh

Saturday 1 February 2020

All12:5713:3114:0514:4015:1515:5216:26

bet365 Auld Yin Conditional Jockeys' Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 5m 47.50s

Valadom^t,v¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Price| T: R Hobson| OR: 123

9/2

Bridged a gap to 2016 when ending winless streak with facile win in similar event at Catterick 10 days ago; jumping his rivals ragged from the front. Down in trip and 6lb higher but major player on that evidence.

Form: 23-4541

Federici^p⁵⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 123| DWS

20/1

Was pulled up both on his last start of last season and again at Aintree on his reappearance in December. Plenty to prove on return from wind surgery but is taking a marked drop in class.

Form: 3P/57P-P

Vice Et Vertu^b²³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 123

12/1

Last spotted taking a handicap at Market Rasen over similar trip in June; has gone well fresh in the past so worth betting check but this is a tougher assignment.

Form: 2765-31

Acdc^t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Liam Quinlan| T: C Grant| OR: 122| D

11/1

No win since Wetherby in the autumn of 2018; has faced some tough asks in the intervening period but failing to give his running more often than not lately and can be opposed for now.

Form: 4P-PP65

Minella For Me^t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Lorcan Williams| T: T R George| OR: 121

17/2

Back-to-back successes over 3m at Wetherby and Kempton last spring resulted in a 14lb ratings hike; has struggled since but it now starting to fall back down the weights.

Form: 2116-7P

My Manekineko²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁸⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 117

8/1

Son of Authorized is 0-19 over fences in his career but that hardly tells the full story, has often run with promise since last summer and gets in here light with riders' claim; interesting contender.

Form: 232655

Benny's Secret^h,t³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 114| C

4/1

Winner of a 2m4½f novice handicap here in November and ran with credit next time under the penalty (second); never able to get into things from the rear on New Year's Day over 3m (behind No No Mac there).

Form: 1-75124

Bletchley Castle^t³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Max Kendrick| T: D Loughnane| OR: 110

8/1

Winning start for this trainer when scoring at Southwell (3m, good) in June from much lower mark; mostly running with credit afterwards and one to pay attention in betting back from a break.

Form: 12P722

No No Mac^b³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Willmott| T: I A Duncan| OR: 107| C| D

4/1

Winner here over 3m last spring and holds Benny's Secret on runner-up effort on New Year's Day over that trip. May not get his own way in front with Valadom around today and that's a worry.

Form: 5-52332

Forecasts

Benny's Secret (4/1), No No Mac (4/1), Valadom (9/2), My Manekineko (8/1), Bletchley Castle (8/1), Minella For Me (17/2), Acdc (11/1), Vice Et Vertu (12/1), Federici (20/1)

Valadom jumped his rivals into submission at Catterick 10 days ago and is much-respected despite going up in the ratings, though he may get company with No No Mac in this field and they could set this up for something else. Vice Et Vertu typically goes well fresh and therefore commands respect but this might fall the way of MY MANEKINEKO. He's put up some rock-solid efforts in recent months and deserves a change of fortune after some near misses. Gavin Brouder's claim assists and they have a good chance if finding their best together.