15:10 Musselburgh

Saturday 6 February 2021

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

bet365 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 3m 51.60s

Three Castles¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 111| CD

12/1

Modest 2m Flat winner here who got back on track over hurdles when fourth of 8 in handicap hurdle at this C&D (soft) 15 days ago. Others are better treated though.

Form: 352-4P4

Hereia³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: K Brogan⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 110| BF| D

7/2

Fair 2m hurdle winner in Ireland. Yet to seriously threaten for this yard but was backed only to unseat halfway latest. Interesting to see whether her supporters' return.

Form: 34-506U

Treshnish^p1¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 107| CD

33/1

C&D winner but has completed only once from four runs over fences this term, pulled up at Haydock (15.7f, heavy) 14 days ago. Back over hurdles with cheekpieces on and lots to prove.

Form: 54-F6UP

Spark Of Madness⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 107

20/1

Lightly-raced maiden who posted excellent third of 8 in novice hurdle at this C&D (good to soft) 61 days ago. Makes handicap bow and needs considering.

Form: 0-653

Breguet Boy¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 113| CD

6/1

Scored over C&D on return and good third of 8 in handicap here 15 days ago, despite being badly hampered last. Dropped 2 lb so well in the mix.

Form: 123

Smart Lass^p⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 103| BF| C

22/1

Triple course Flat winner, latest in August, but turned in poor effort when well supported back hurdling over C&D 75 days ago. Has a bit to prove now.

Form: 220U-4

Honda Fifty⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 102

17/2

Promise all 3 starts in bumpers before twice in the frame in maiden hurdles, fourth of 8 at Kelso (16.2f, heavy) 62 days ago. Likely to do better still now handicapping, so not ruled out.

Form: 2/22-44

Jorgie¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 111| D

22/1

Off the mark at Perth on hurdles debut in September but yet to match that form since, fifth of 8 in handicap hurdle at this C&D (50/1) 15 days ago. More needed.

Form: 145

Diamond State⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 100

25/1

Modest bumper performer. Best run hurdling when fourth in 2m novice here but followed it with poor sixth over 2m4f here last time. Into handicaps with work to do.

Form: 8-4746

Sarvi^b¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Reed| T: J S Goldie| OR: 100| CD

14/1

Dual purpose mare who finally opened her account over C&D in December. Poor seventh in second-time blinkers here since so needs to bounce back.

Form: 852417

Balranald^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum Bewley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 97

5/2

Modest 1m2f Flat winner who posted best effort over hurdles on only second run for new yard when clear third of 14 in handicap here (19.8f) 15 days ago. Player off same mark.

Form: 56-45F3

Sword Of Fate¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Ryan Mania| T: L Kerr| OR: 94| D

50/1

Ended losing run in 2m1f handicap chase at Cartmel in August but well held all 4 starts since, pulled up here 15 days ago. Back hurdling now with questions to answer.

Form: 91936P

Be The Difference⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 92

8/1

Eye-catching third from a long way back in first-time hood at Fakenham (2½m) latest. Headgear left off now but remains open to improvement and one to consider.

Form: F-09773

Non-Runners

Chosen Flame²⁹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 9

T: R Dobbin J: Non Runner

Conundrum⁵⁸

Weight: 10-3| Age: 5

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Ross Turner

Forecasts

Balranald (5/2), Hereia (7/2), Breguet Boy (6/1), Be The Difference (8/1), Honda Fifty (17/2), Three Castles (12/1), Sarvi (14/1), Conundrum (16/1), Spark Of Madness (20/1), Chosen Flame (20/1), Smart Lass (22/1), Jorgie (22/1), Diamond State (25/1), Treshnish (33/1), Sword Of Fate (50/1)

A few with chances but BALRANALD posted an excellent third here last month on only his second run for Keith Dalgleish and can race off the same mark so gets the verdict. Be The Difference was an eye-catcher when third at Fakenham last time so is feared most with handicap-debutant Honda Fifty another likely to step forward and well worth a second look.