14:05 Musselburgh

Saturday 6 February 2021

All12:5713:2914:0514:4015:1015:4516:19

bet365 Scottish County Hurdle (Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 3m 43.2s

Voix Du Reve^p³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 146| D

18/1

Smart chaser at best for Willie Mullins and showed plenty of zest for new yard in Aintree handicap hurdle in October. Failed to cash in on a lenient Flat mark but neck second over C&D latest.

Form: 436-042

Christopher Wood^p,t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143| CD

11/4

Fairly useful hurdle/Flat winner and best effort over obstacles this term returned to 2m when runner-up at Kempton in December (first-time tongue tie). Good-value conditional takes over.

Form: 910-392

Dear Sire^h¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 140| CD

16/1

Useful effort to win 2m Chepstow handicap under this rider from 2 lb lower in October. Fit from a runner-up effort in a jumpers bumper and sharp track will suit him.

Form: 3214P2

Locker Room Talk^h¹¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 138| D

40/1

Has some solid chase form and returned with a bang to land 18f Kempton handicap in October. Since left Nigel Twiston-Davies and has same mark here but needs to prove he's as effective over timber.

Form: 33113-1

Never Do Nothing⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: K Brogan⁽⁵⁾| T: T Gibney| OR: 134| CD

16/1

Useful on the Flat an made successful hurdles debut over this C&D last term. Found out in better company after and well held when last seen in November. Opening mark looks stiff.

Form: 169-35

Torigni⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: J M Quinlan| T: H Whittington| OR: 133

6/1

Twice-raced ex-French gelding, landing 2m juvenile hurdle at Dieppe in 2019. Better form when finishnig third both starts in handicaps to end last year and he's still unexposed.

Form: 01-33

Newtown Boy¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Billy Garritty⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 128| C| D

15/2

Cashed in on a career-low mark over 19.8f here in December. Bumped into a big improver back at this venue a month later and has confirmed well-being with a jumper bumper win recently.

Form: 556121

Blakeney Point^t³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 127| CD

10/1

Presumably benefited from a second wind operation when springing a surprise over this C&D on New Year's Day, edging a close finish with Voix du Reve. 2 lb rise perfectly fair.

Form: 8-1921

Ashington⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Oakley Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 124| BF| CD

5/2

Dual novice winner last term and, fit from the Flat, he shaped well on reappearance in this sphere at Cheltenham. Disappointing favourite at Doncaster but well weighted starting out for new yard.

Form: 1132-35

Glan Y Gors^t⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 120

16/1

Fairly useful Flat winner (successful 5 times on AW) and struck over hurdles at Cartmel last summer. Fit from a jumpers bumper run on Tuesday but this is a deep race on return to hurdling.

Form: 9/32-144

Forecasts

Ashington (5/2), Christopher Wood (11/4), Torigni (6/1), Newtown Boy (15/2), Blakeney Point (10/1), Glan Y Gors (16/1), Dear Sire (16/1), Never Do Nothing (16/1), Voix Du Reve (18/1), Locker Room Talk (40/1)

ASHINGTON has yet to win a handicap over hurdles, but he produced his best effort when runner-up in this a year ago and this could be the time to catch him starting out for Brian Ellison. Christopher Wood and Dear Sire are feared most in a race that may be dominated by up-and-coming conditional riders.