14:40 Musselburgh

Saturday 1 February 2020

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

bet365 Scottish Champion Chase (Handicap)

Off time: 14:42 | Winning time: 3m 55.50s

Double W's⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Dowson| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 140| D

20/1

Progressive during the spring/summer, winning three on the trot over fences, efforts either side of summer break much less pleasing and needs personal best to land this.

Form: 61-1137

Locker Room Talk^h²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 139| D

5/1

Useful over timber and going the right way now chasing, made all at Taunton and Sandown last two starts, battling strongly for most recent of those. Won't go down without a scrap despite being 5lb higher now.

Form: 123311

Dear Sire⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 138| CD

14/1

Two wins and two falls in six starts as a novice over fences last season; not at his best either start this term over hurdles. On a workable mark should he resume progress in this sphere.

Form: F31F-64

Greaneteen⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 138

6/4

Winner of three of his last four starts, and impressed on his chasing debut at Ascot in December, winning with a bit in hand; can be keen, so good pace up front will suit, handles testing ground and deserves plenty of respect.

Form: 3/611-01

Get Out The Gate³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Ryan Mania| T: J S Goldie| OR: 130| CD

6/1

Winner over hurdles here in 2018 and got chasing career off to a fine start with wins at Ayr and Perth back in May; has found things much tougher since going into handicaps and may still be high in ratings despite latest ease.

Form: 11469P

Baby King^t⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 130| D

20/1

4-17 record over fences, ensuring he's more exposed than plenty of these rivals. Poor when last spotted at Ludlow in December and likely finds a few of these better equipped.

Form: 38F1-25

Cracking Destiny³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Callum Bewley| T: A C Whillans| OR: 130| CD

7/2

Dual chase winner last season for Ian Williams (2m/2m4f) and began life for this trainer with C&D win in November. Only just touched off since over 2m4f here on New Year's Day. Up another 5lb for his troubles.

Form: 3143-12

Ardera Cross^p¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 127| D

40/1

Five-time winner over fences, latest at Ayr in November over this sort of trip from 2lb lower. Three poor efforts since however, latest two over hurdles; must bounce back.

Form: U014P5

Ballyvic Boru²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 126| CD

28/1

Regained winning thread at Wetherby in October; behind Ardera Cross next time at Ayr however and poor run back in Yorkshire last month following wind surgery.

Form: 441334

Monsieur Co^p,t⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 124| CD

20/1

C&D winner 12 months ago and handles testing ground, could be a competitive mark but another to finish behind Ardera Cross at Ayr in November and must bounce back from poor run at Aintree latest.

Form: 16-232P

Forecasts

Greaneteen (6/4), Cracking Destiny (7/2), Locker Room Talk (5/1), Get Out The Gate (6/1), Dear Sire (14/1), Monsieur Co (20/1), Baby King (20/1), Double W's (20/1), Ballyvic Boru (28/1), Ardera Cross (40/1)

He made a fine start to his chasing career at Ascot in December, despite racing quite keenly at times, and GREANETEEN is capable of building on that here for the champion trainer. He should get some pace to follow and that ought to help him settle. Cracking Destiny went very close here on New Year's Day, though is frustratingly up 5lb in defeat, while the same penalty has been applied to gutsy Sandown winner Locker Room Talk; who won't go down easily.