15:00 Musselburgh

Monday 23 November 2020

All11:3512:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Saltire.Scot Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 14.50s

Gray Day³²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 102

4/1

Clear of the rest when runner-up at Bangor in August, but below that level in 2 subsequent starts and it's been almost 4 years since he last got his head in front.

Form: 75-3255

Always Tipsy³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁷⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 98| C| D

4/1

Well held first 2 starts this season, but took a step back in the right direction when fifth of 13 in 25.8f Kelso handicap last time. Now 5 lb below last winning mark and couldn't rule out.

Form: 212-475

Kiwayu^p,t¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 95| D

50/1

Landed couple of handicaps off higher marks in summer 2018, but has showed nothing since returning from a lengthy layoff in January.

Form: 21/P0-PP

Green Zone¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 94

15/2

Losing run mounting up, but went very close to bucking that trend at Kelso (20.9f) recently. All wins at 2m-2½m, but well worth another crack at this trip and he's a must for the shortlist.

Form: 60-6322

Buyer Beware¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: L Bailey| OR: 87| C

20/1

Winner over fences here last November and went close on the Flat back at this course in July. However, little impact in handicap chases last 3 starts and questions to answer back in this sphere.

Form: 58P-5P7

Elle Est Grande¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 86| BF

6/1

Winless following 11 attempts under Rules, but the handicapper has shown mercy and she wasn't far behind Green Zone when fourth at Kelso off this mark last time. Needs considering.

Form: 56P3P4

Rockliffe¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Miss E Chaston⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 82| C

20/1

Without a win for the best part of 2 years and efforts at Sedgefield this season hardly point to an imminent revival.

Form: 470-659

Dorette^p1²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: C N Kellett| OR: 78

11/1

Bumper winner in 2018 and looked set to open hurdles account at Uttoxeter in September (23.3f), hitting the front when falling at the last. Well held upped to 25f at Huntingdon next time.

Form: 86F-3F0

Golden Chancer²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Bourke| OR: 72

11/1

Hasn't shown much since switched to hurdles, pulled up at Hexham last time, and hopes pinned on this step up in trip making the difference.

Form: 70P-75P

Permission Granted^p1⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Dobbin| OR: 72

7/2

Could of decent efforts to his name in this sphere, including with blinkers enlisted at Hexham last time, but he's 0-15 overall and connections now roll the dice with cheekpieces.

Form: 850/47-5

Forecasts

Permission Granted (7/2), Always Tipsy (4/1), Gray Day (4/1), Elle Est Grande (6/1), Green Zone (15/2), Golden Chancer (11/1), Dorette (11/1), Rockliffe (20/1), Buyer Beware (20/1), Kiwayu (50/1)

Though yet to conclusively prove that they stay this far, ELLE EST GRANDE and Green Zone both shaped as though worth another crack at this trip in the recent Kelso handicap won by Old Jewry. Green Zone fared the better of the two on that occasion, but Keith Dalgleish's charge is comparatively unexposed and may well turn the tables here if able to build on that effort. Always Tipsy also has claims.