14:15 Musselburgh

Monday 7 December 2020

All12:1512:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:15

Follow williamhillracing On Twitter Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 6m 11.83s

Weather Front^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 130

4/1

Runner-up in 21f Kelso handicap on first hurdles start for this yard in September. Better than bare result upped to 3m in first-time cheekpieces at Cheltenham last time and this is less taxing.

Form: 1/42-285

Arthur Mac³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 129

9/2

Won twice over hurdles for Henry Oliver during 2018/19. Positives to glean from 2 starts for new yard (both at 2m) since returning from a lengthy absence and this is a more suitable test.

Form: 1215/96

Taxmeifyoucan^p³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 127

16/1

Successful off this mark at Carlisle last December and creditable placed efforts both completed starts this term. Trip/ground no problem, but likely to find one or two too good once more.

Form: 653-3P3

Westland Row⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 125

40/1

Useful hurdler/chaser for Gordon Elliott, landed a hat-trick in summer of 2019. Little impact in handicap hurdles for new yard following wind surgery this year, though.

Form: 3442-08

Present Chief³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 124

4/1

Improver since switched to handicaps, benefitting from the step up to 3m+ at Uttoxeter in August and Warwick in September. Good fourth in competitive Newbury race last time and should be in the mix.

Form: 72-2114

Get Out The Gate³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Callum Bewley| T: A M Thomson| OR: 124| C| D

15/2

Winning hurdler/chaser for Jim Goldie who struggled in 2 runs for Gordon Elliott. However, stepped up on previous efforts for this yard when second over fences at Kelso and claims back in this sphere.

Form: 3-60792

No Regrets⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 122| BF

11/4

Progressive since switched to handicaps, wide-margin winner at Southwell and Stratford in August. Lost little caste in defeat at Carlisle (17.2f) last time, but up another 5 lb and stamina to prove.

Form: 78-3112

Show Promise²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Ross Chapman| T: P A Kirby| OR: 120

20/1

Successful on hurdling debut in January, but his 3 subsequent efforts, including back in this sphere on handicap bow at Wetherby last month, have been underwhelming.

Form: 2/217-P4

Western Rules^p²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr Lyall Hodgins⁽⁷⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 120| D

28/1

Latest success gained off 3 lb lower mark at Doncaster in March. Laboured efforts in Wetherby handicaps the last twice and No Regrets is clearly the stable first-string.

Form: 1-3249P

Ryedale Racer^p1⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 118

50/1

Struck gold on second run for this yard at Hexham last October, but pulled up on each of his 4 subsequent starts. Hopes pinned on first-time cheekpieces sparking a revival.

Form: 51PP-PP

Non-Runners

Maison D'Or¹⁷

Weight: 10-0| Age: 6

T: Micky Hammond J: Alain Cawley

Forecasts

No Regrets (11/4), Present Chief (4/1), Weather Front (4/1), Arthur Mac (9/2), Get Out The Gate (15/2), Maison D'Or (10/1), Taxmeifyoucan (16/1), Show Promise (20/1), Western Rules (28/1), Westland Row (40/1), Ryedale Racer (50/1)

WEATHER FRONT left the impression that he's well worth another crack at this trip when fifth in a competitive listed handicap at Cheltenham, and Iain Jardine's charge gets the nod back in calmer waters here. Get Out The Gate returned to form when runner-up over fences last time and will be a threat if matching that form back hurdling, while Present Chief and Arthur Mac are others to consider.