13:45 Musselburgh

Monday 21 December 2020

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

williamhill.com 'Hands And Heels' Handicap Hurdle (Conditional And Amateur Jockeys)

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 6m 18.10s

Millie Of Mayo³²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Lyall Hodgins⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 107

14/1

Different proposition since switched to handicaps, completing hat-trick at Hexham in September. Has struggled last 3 starts and while drop back to Class 5 company may help, others are more appealing.

Form: 111578

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Handy Hollow^p1⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 105

14/1

Below last winning mark and placed on 4 of his last 5 starts, third in a 13-runner Kelso handicap (25.8f) last time. Didn't look entirely straightforward on that occasion and now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 7-36223

Trongate¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Kieren Buckley| T: R M Smith| OR: 104

17/2

On a long losing run, often coming up short in the jumping department (particularly over fences). Still, has largely acquitted himself well this year and place possibilities off a workable mark.

Form: 3433P3

Top Billing¹²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss Josie Elliot⁽⁵⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 103| D

16/1

Temperamental sort who took advantage of a drop in the weights when landing back-to-back 25.4f handicaps at Cartmel during the simmer. 7 lb rise for latest success may be enough to anchor him, though.

Form: P543-11

Big Bad Dream¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Connor Wood⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 103| BF

11/2

Fair hurdler who raced lazily when runner-up on return at Kelso last month. Took a step in the wrong direction over 22.7f there next time, though, and now 0-10 in this sphere.

Form: 24U3-25

Always Tipsy²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Joe Williamson| T: N W Alexander| OR: 98| C| D

6/1

Well held first 2 starts this term but more like it the last twice, latterly 9 lengths second to Permission Granted over this C&D. Entitled to finish much closer to that rival on these revised terms.

Form: 12-4752

Squire's Tale⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: D B Hurst⁽³⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 94

66/1

Fair 12f winner on Flat but hasn't shown much in 4 starts over hurdles, including in 16.2f Kelso novice on debut for this yard in October. Big step forward needed upped in trip on this handicap bow.

Form: 90-90

Orient Sunset³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: I A Duncan| OR: 86

18/1

Showed more spark than in 3 previous starts over hurdles when fifth in a 12-runner Newcastle maiden (20.3f) last month. One to consider with improvement possible now handicapping and upped in trip.

Form: 475-765

Whoa Black Betty¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Liam Harrison| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 85

12/1

Maiden who posted respectable efforts in 2½m handicaps at Perth and Hexham prior to a poor display upped to 22.7f at Kelso. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: 37-853P

Rockliffe²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Aidan Macdonald⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 81| C

28/1

Without a win for 2 years and while he posted his best effort for a while when fifth in the C&D handicap won by Permission Granted last month, he would be of greater interest over a shorter trip.

Form: 70-6595

Permission Granted^p¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: James Robottom⁽⁵⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 80| BF| CD

11/2

Belatedly off the mark in first-time cheekpieces over C&D last month, but not in the same form under a penalty at Market Rasen next time and effectively 1 lb higher now new mark has kicked in.

Form: 0/47-515

Lissen To The Lady²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Mr Nathan Brennan| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 80

14/1

First worthwhile piece of form over hurdles when third in a C&D handicap last time, but another sizeable step forward needed if she's to emerge on top.

Form: 6894-P3

Oliver's Island^b,t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Miss J I Bedi⁽³⁾| T: Sean Conway| OR: 78| D

17/2

Took advantage of reduced mark when landing a heavy-ground 3m Southwell handicap in March. Put in good late work when fourth of 13 on return at Hexham and claims granted a strong pace to aim at.

Form: 64651-4

Dorette²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Philip Armson| T: C N Kellett| OR: 76

28/1

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. Mixed bag since and each-way claims at best.

Form: 6F-3F04

Golden Chancer²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: K Brogan| T: D Bourke| OR: 71

9/1

Better effort when 13 lengths third of 10 to Permission Granted over C&D last month, but he'll do well to go two places better this time given that he's 8 lb 'wrong' at the weights.

Form: 0P-75P3

Forecasts

Permission Granted (11/2), Big Bad Dream (11/2), Always Tipsy (6/1), Oliver's Island (17/2), Trongate (17/2), Golden Chancer (9/1), Whoa Black Betty (12/1), Handy Hollow (14/1), Lissen To The Lady (14/1), Millie Of Mayo (14/1), Top Billing (16/1), Orient Sunset (18/1), Dorette (28/1), Rockliffe (28/1), Squire's Tale (66/1)

This looks wide open and a chance is taken on ORIENT SUNSET, who appeared to take a step forward at Newcastle and there's a good chance that she'll progress again now moving up in trip on this handicap debut. Always Tipsy is taken to reverse C&D placings with Permission Granted on these revised terms and the 11-y-o is feared most ahead of Oliver's Island and Trongate.