13:45 Musselburgh

Sunday 2 February 2020

All13:1513:4514:1514:5015:2015:5016:20

bet365 Scottish Triumph Hurdle (Listed Juvenile Hurdle)

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 3m 54.6s

El Picador³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 123| BF| CD

15/2

Improving juvenile who has competed over C&D on all three starts (212); was no match for a front-running stablemate of Anna Bunina (Never Do Nothing) here on New Year's Day; trainer Keith Dalgleish also saddles Three Castles.

Form: 212

Goa Lil^h²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 133| D

12/5

French bumper winner who made an inauspicious start over hurdles for Nigel Twiston-Davies before showing his true ability with a solid front-running shift at Kempton (2m, good to soft) three weeks ago; should be suited by this track.

Form: 341U41

Group Stage⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 127| D

9/2

Made a winning start over hurdles at Ludlow (2m, soft) in November - produced late to reel in the Philip Hobbs-trained Gavrocheka; has since bettered that performance in defeat (fourth) at Cheltenham; makes the shortlist.

Form: 14

Three Castles¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish

40/1

In front when taking a heavy fall at the last on C&D hurdles debut in November; travelled smoothly but didn't find much off the bridle when finishing 3½L third to Beat Box at Newcastle (2m, soft) a fortnight ago; stablemate of El Picador.

Form: F3

Thyme White^h³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

2/1

French Flat winner (1m1½f, Bordeaux Le Bouscat); thrashed by the unbeaten Goshen on Sandown hurdles debut; better when again filling the second-place berth (Goa Lil fourth) at Kempton since; tends to race enthusiastically.

Form: 22

Anna Bunina^t1¹⁰⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: J J Burke| T: J C McConnell

7/1

86-rated on the Flat (4-12); has left Jedd O'Keeffe for 52,000gns since winning at Catterick (1m4f, soft) in October; tongue-tied on hurdles/stable debut for the Irish-trainer John McConnell; the market can offer a guide to her chances.

Form:

Sister Midnight¹¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Callum Bewley| T: J S Goldie

80/1

Dark Angel filly who fetched €18,000 at Goffs in November; consistent on the Flat in France for Pascal Bary, scoring at prohibitive odds at Le Pin au Haras (1m3f, good); is facing a very stern test on hurdles/stable/GB debut; look elsewhere.

Form:

Non-Runners

The Dancing Poet³²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: B Ellison J: Henry Brooke

Forecasts

Thyme White (2/1), Goa Lil (12/5), Group Stage (9/2), Anna Bunina (7/1), El Picador (15/2), The Dancing Poet (8/1), Three Castles (40/1), Sister Midnight (80/1)

GOA LIL finished a couple of places behind the Paul Nicholls-trained Thyme White at Kempton over the festive period, but the suspicion is that this Samum gelding has merely taken time to acclimatise to his new surroundings (and the task in hand over hurdles). Under a more positive ride at Kempton three weeks ago he took a marked step forward when fending off the combined challenge of Lord Lamington and Fraser Island. This sharp track should play to the strengths of his run-style and he's fancied to continue on a positive trajectory. Of the remainder, Group Stage is most respected.