15:45 Musselburgh

Saturday 6 February 2021

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

bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 9m 10.9s

Le Breuil^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 140| BF

9/4

Smart staying chaser who landed NH Chase at 2019 Cheltenham Festival. Creditable efforts in defeat on all 3 outings this season and ought to be in the shake-up again.

Form: 750-433

Saint Xavier^b,t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: W T Kennedy| T: R Hobson| OR: 137

10/1

Stopped the slide in a first-time visor (swapped for blinkers now) when fourth over 3m at Kempton 4 weeks ago. Needs to build on that now.

Form: 3-P7FP4

Bob Mahler^b⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex| OR: 137| CD

8/1

Won this race last year before third in Kim Muir at Cheltenham Festival. However, he doesn't obviously arrive in anything like the same form this time round having pulled up on all 3 runs this term.

Form: 213-PPP

Little Bruce^p¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 136

40/1

Useful chaser who was fourth in this 12 months ago but he doesn't appear to have returned in much form having been well held in varied events this season.

Form: 314-770

Mighty Thunder^p,t⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 129| C

14/1

Made it 2-2 in Hexham novice chases with front-running display in 3m contest in November. Not on a going day in Kelso novice since and he'll need more to defy this mark. Visor swapped for cheekpieces.

Form: 42-9116

Fortified Bay^p⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 128

50/1

Dual winner last season. Below par when reaching frame both starts this term (made mistakes when distant second over 3½m at Haydock latterly) and will need to get back to best to play leading role.

Form: 511P-42

Stay Humble^b⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: B S Hughes| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 122

12/1

Fairly useful hurdler for Willie Mullins who has hit the frame on 3 of his 4 starts over fences for present yard, runner-up in a 2½m course handicap last time. More needed now up markedly in trip.

Form: 4/663-32

Classic Escape^p⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Lee Edwards| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 122

10/1

Fair hurdle winner in Ireland who has found his form now for new yard, easily taking 3m handicap at Southwell before 15 lengths second to Dino Boy in Borders National. 8 lb better off with him now.

Form: 23U212

Dino Boy⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 122

7/2

Just second start for this yard when landing 4m Borders National at Kelso in December. Very much helped by a faller at the last but he's very much unexposed granted this sort of stamina test.

Form: 2132-P1

The Delray Munky^p⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Oakley Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 121

12/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler who made it third time lucky over fences when landing 23.5f Kelso handicap in December. Needs to shrug off a disappointing run at Wetherby since, though.

Form: 52-431R

Billy Bronco^b⁵⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 117

7/1

Patchy record for Evan Williams but stepped up on his reappearance when runner-up at Hereford in first-time blinkers (retained) 8 weeks ago. May have more to give for this yard.

Form: 61PP-72

Non-Runners

The Ferry Master⁷⁰

Weight: 11-6| Age: 8

T: A M Thomson J: Ryan Mania

Forecasts

Le Breuil (9/4), Dino Boy (7/2), The Ferry Master (4/1), Billy Bronco (7/1), Bob Mahler (8/1), Classic Escape (10/1), Saint Xavier (10/1), Stay Humble (12/1), The Delray Munky (12/1), Mighty Thunder (14/1), Little Bruce (40/1), Fortified Bay (50/1)

THE FERRY MASTER looks a chaser going places for the Sandy Thomson team and it's worth chancing his stamina as there's a feeling he's still ahead of his mark. Le Breuil rates a danger on the back of a good run in the Classic at Warwick, while Dino Boy was helped by a faller at the last when taking the Borders National in December but is still respected as a progressive, young stayer.