13:20 Musselburgh

Friday 1 January 2021

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:35

Betway Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 4m 59.80s

Navajo Pass²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 142

7/1

Fairly useful 14f Flat winner who landed a Grade 2 over hurdles last season before a fine fourth in the Triumph. Shaped better than distance beaten suggests both starts this term and not discounted.

Form: 1214-57

Sebastopol^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: T Lacey| OR: 140| C

11/4

Lightly raced but 2-3 in handicaps last season at Wincanton and here (15.5f). Gives the impression he’ll be suited by further and he should come on for November's Newbury return.

Form: 43/141-6

I'm To Blame^h³¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 135| BF| C| D

16/1

Bumper/hurdles winner who quickly matched his useful form over fences last winter, landing a 22f maiden here in January. Third in Jumpers' bumper final start and no forlorn hope on return.

Form: 2/22213-

Elf De Re⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 134| BF

11/1

Kelso maiden winner who ran well when second in a Grade 2 there in February. Promise on Carlisle chase debut in October but not in anything like the same form back there since. Reverts to timber now.

Form: 3122-35

Newtown Boy²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 128| CD

8/1

Eased in weights and duly capitalised to run out a 4.5 length winner of a C&D event last month, keeping on well run-in. However, he wouldn't be sure to replicate that here.

Form: 46-5561

Kaizer²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: T Scudamore| T: A C Whillans| OR: 121| C

13/2

Gained reward for some good efforts this year (including on Flat) when seeing off 13 rivals at Carlisle (17f, soft) in October. Not disgraced over hurdles/on Flat since and booking of Scudamore a plus

Form: 36-4315

Accomplice²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 120

4/1

Impressive on hurdles debut in France in November 2018. Seemingly hard to train since but more encouraging signs when second at Wincanton (15.3f) 4 weeks ago. Steps back up in trip in a tongue tie.

Form: 17/02

Skiddaw Valleys³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 119| D

14/1

Hurdles winner who ran well when fourth at Doncaster (16.5f) in November, staying on from 2 out. Re-united with Brian Hughes now and step back up in trip rates a positive.

Form: 2/15-284

Clearance²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 116| C

10/1

Multiple Flat/selling hurdle winner who arrives having run best race in this sphere when third behind Newtown Boy in a C&D handicap last month, no extra run-in. However, this looks tougher.

Form: 9/12-3

Non-Runners

Native Fighter²⁰

Weight: 10-7| Age: 7

T: James Moffatt J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Sebastopol (11/4), Accomplice (4/1), Kaizer (13/2), Navajo Pass (7/1), Newtown Boy (8/1), Native Fighter (8/1), Clearance (10/1), Elf De Re (11/1), Skiddaw Valleys (14/1), I'm To Blame (16/1)

An intriguing contest with the vote in favour of NATIVE FIGHTER. He's a winner from 3 lb lower at Perth in the summer, it's possible he will strip fitter for last month's Doncaster return spin and the forecast better ground/step back up in trip are both positive factors. Sebastopol was most progressive last term and is feared on the back of his Newbury effort, ahead of Navajo Pass and Accomplice.