15:00 Musselburgh

Tuesday 18 February 2020

All14:0014:3015:0015:3516:0516:3517:05

Racing Post GoNorth Weekend 20-22 March Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 28.16s

Trongate⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Bourke| OR: 105| D

12/1

Good 9L second over C&D on good-to-soft ground in November and the drop in trip is a positive having disappointed over an extended 3m at Ayr (soft) on his only subsequent start.

Form: P80628

Titus Bolt^b³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 102| C| D

8/1

Placed on all three starts since joining this stable including when 16L second over 2m4f at Sedgefield (soft) last month. One to note despite racing off a 4lb higher mark in this event.

Form: 5/41-322

Starplex²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 102| BF| D

9/1

Beaten a head in a 2m handicap hurdle at Kelso (heavy) on his penultimate start and is interesting despite a disappointing 29L fifth over an extended 2m3f at Wetherby (soft) 11 days later.

Form: 421125

A Ladies Milan^p1,t⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 98

7/1

Placed in a point-to-point last spring but has failed to trouble the judge in five starts under Rules to date including when 95L sixth over an extended 2m6f at Kelso (soft) on handicap debut in December. Wears cheekpices for the first time.

Form: 245F56

Danced Every Dance⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 97

33/1

Maiden after seven starts and drops in trip here having pulled up in a mares only hurdle race on handicap debut over an extended 3m1f at Catterick (soft) last month.

Form: 35-496P

Raemoir²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Ryan Mania| T: R M Smith| OR: 96

25/1

Best effort in five starts to date came when finishing 22L third in a 2m novice hurdle at Kelso (soft) last time out. Market support would be notable stepping up in distance on handicap debut.

Form: 68P93

Whispering Waters¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 94

40/1

Making her handicap debut when finishing 30L seventh in a 2m4f hurdle event at Sedgefield (soft) earlier this month. Probably best watched on this occasion.

Form: 09967

Nineohtwooneoh⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 94

1/1

Five race maiden returned from a break with a promising 11½L third in novices' contest over an extended 1m7f on handicap debut at Wincanton (heavy) in December. Tongue tie worn for the first time that day is absent stepping up in trip.

Form: 8057-3

Chosen Flame⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 91

8/1

Point-to-point winner ran well to finish third in a handicap hurdle over this C&D at the start of last month. Softer ground forecast here no issue and is one to note on this occasion.

Form: 5P-9253

Goldslinger^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 89

16/1

Decent effort in finishing third in a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (soft) a fortnight ago. Races off a 1lb lower mark here but is vulnerable to less exposed rivals.

Form: 438P43

On We Go¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 89

18/1

Broke her maiden when victorious in a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m5f at Ayr (heavy) just under a month ago. Struggled upped to 3m3f at Sedgefield (soft) subsequently and this drop in distance should see her in a better light.

Form: 064510

Le Gavroche⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 87

33/1

Returning from over a year off the track when finishing 44L ninth over an extended 2m3f at Wetherby (soft) in December. Shaped as if he'd improve for the run that day and market support would be notable in this contest.

Form: 675/96-9

Abouttimeyoutoldme¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Ross Chapman| T: A C Whillans| OR: 84

66/1

11 race maiden was beaten 21L when finishing 11th in a handicap hurdle over an extended 1m7f on good-to-soft ground here at the start of this month. Probably best watched stepping back up in distance.

Form: 0F6060

Barfly^v¹⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C Grant| OR: 84

40/1

Point-to-point winner in May 2018 but has failed to shine in six starts under Rules subsequently. Visor worn for the first time when 30L seventh in a novices' handicap chase over this trip here last time out is retained on his return to hurdles.

Form: PP-63P7

Non-Runners

Old Jewry¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: D Bourke J: G Sheehan

Forecasts

Nineohtwooneoh (1/1), A Ladies Milan (7/1), Chosen Flame (8/1), Titus Bolt (8/1), Starplex (9/1), Trongate (12/1), Goldslinger (16/1), On We Go (18/1), Old Jewry (20/1), Raemoir (25/1), Danced Every Dance (33/1), Le Gavroche (33/1), Whispering Waters (40/1), Barfly (40/1), Abouttimeyoutoldme (66/1)

The consistent TITUS BOLT can gain reward for a string of placed efforts by taking this competitive handicap hurdle. Nineohtwooneoh showed good form when placed on handicap debut last time out and he can claim second spot for top connections while third place can go the way of Le Gavroche who showed promise on his return from an absence last time out.