14:15 Musselburgh

Monday 21 December 2020

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

William Hill Extra Places Every Day Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 5m 6.3s

Big Jim Dwyer³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 105

50/1

Encouraging in bumpers/qualifying races over hurdles but well held on handicap bow at Newcastle (2m) last month and mark might be on the high side. Steps up in trip.

Form: 336330

Choix Des Armes^h³⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 105

100/1

Successful hurdler for Paul Nicholls in 2018. Struggled in 3 runs for this yard last term but dropped a full 15 lb ahead of this first run for a year.

Form: 852/0P6-

Welsh Rarebit⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Ryan Mania| T: L Egerton| OR: 104

50/1

Fair maiden who has struggled since missing 14 months, well beaten back over hurdles at Stratford 6 weeks ago. Placed 3 times in Ayr novices 2 seasons back.

Form: 32305/7

Ottonian¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 103

5/1

Fairly useful Flat winner. Promise in 3 runs over hurdles this term and likely to do better now handicapping. One of the more likely types.

Form: 533

Wakool^p1⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 103

5/2

Back to form in similar events the last twice and clearly competitive from this mark, just 3 lb higher than for his January Doncaster win. Cheekpieces go on and has in-form claiming rider up too.

Form: 431-933

Six One Nine^p1¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 102

22/1

Modest form at best over hurdles, fading again at Kelso (22.7f, heavy) last time. Cheekpieces go on. Rider's 7 lb claim will help.

Form: 8P62-96

Chosen Flame⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 98

14/1

Winning pointer who opened account over timber at Perth (16.2f) in August. His form is patchy though and he shaped as if amiss at Carlisle last time.

Form: 3-21530

Balranald^t⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Callum Bewley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 97WS

10/1

Won on the level in France and has shown a bit over hurdles in Scotland. Has moved yards and steps up in trip after another wind op.

Form: 356-45

Keep The River^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 97| D

8/1

Not won for a while, though better signs at Sedgefield last time. Suspect she'll benefit from a longer trip than this though, while she's failed to complete on her last 2 visits here.

Form: 339U-63

Broadway Joe⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 94WS

18/1

Has shown a bit, though handicap mark probably needs to dip further judged on his 2 runs this term. Has had a wind op.

Form: 2646-P0

Old Jewry^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: D Bourke| OR: 93

16/1

Edged ahead to open account at Kelso (21f) last month but reverted to free-going ways at Newcastle next time. Others more persuasive.

Form: 8P3515

Foster'sisland¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 91

28/1

Little impact in 3 runs over hurdles this term but was better in bumpers and goes handicapping now.

Form: 362-P36

Barnay^b²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 90

7/2

Placed again for this yard in big-field handicap at Doncaster over this trip last month. Second that day won next time and he could go well once more in change of headgear.

Form: 2422-63

Lady Babs^p1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: J Kington| T: A Crook| OR: 87

80/1

More needed on pick of her efforts now handicapping in first-time headgear. Market move would be interesting.

Form: 0263-F7

Flutter Down⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 86

20/1

Didn't improve sufficiently to get involved on last month's handicap debut at Kelso (21f), though deserving of some credit for beating far more than beat him. Dropped 2 lb.

Form: 4307-64

Forecasts

Wakool (5/2), Barnay (7/2), Ottonian (5/1), Keep The River (8/1), Balranald (10/1), Chosen Flame (14/1), Old Jewry (16/1), Broadway Joe (18/1), Flutter Down (20/1), Six One Nine (22/1), Foster'sisland (28/1), Big Jim Dwyer (50/1), Welsh Rarebit (50/1), Lady Babs (80/1), Choix Des Armes (100/1)

WAKOOL has run well the last twice and the fitting of cheekpieces and booking of in-form Bruce Lynn (who takes off 5 lb) could be the catalysts that see him get his head back in front. Ottonian isn't over-faced for his handicap debut and has obvious claims. Barnay is another to consider.