16:45 Musselburgh

Friday 26 March 2021

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1016:4517:15

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, Gateway To Champions Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 4m 59.19s

Sidi Ismael²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 112

4/1

Yet to score over hurdles but plenty of good efforts in defeat, fourth over C&D on his penultimate start. Not at best at Sedgefield latest but not ruled out back here.

Form: P-22F43

Busy Street¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 108

9/2

Formerly useful on the Flat so no surprise he proved up to winning a pair of jumpers bumper. Not beaten far on the Flat 15 days ago so every chance of opening his account over timber here.

Form: 933141

Three Castles²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny McMenamin| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 106| C

12/1

Modest 2m Flat winner here who has got back on track over hurdles of late, fourth over 15.6f here in February. Not in same when tailed off a month later however so needs to bounce back to feature.

Form: 2-4P440

Ottonian^t⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 102

11/2

Fairly useful Flat winner. Fair form when reaching frame over hurdles on last 3 outings in this sphere and shaped well when third in a couple of jumpers recently. Should be in the mix here.

Form: 533433

Claret Dabbler²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Ryan Mania| T: Mrs H O Graham| OR: 98

10/1

Displayed a fair level of ability in bumpers for Gillian Boanas, and showed a bit more than previously over hurdles after 15 months off when third over C&D 23 days ago. Makes handicap bow.

Form: 83/358-3

Balranald²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Callum Bewley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 96

10/3

Modest 1m2f Flat winner who well backed, ran up to form when a close fifth in handicap hurdle at this course (15.6f, good) 23 days ago. Rates a big player here back up in trip here.

Form: 45F3F5

Six One Nine^v²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Oakley Brown⁽⁵⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 94

11/2

Well held all 4 starts in handicap hurdles this season, albeit hinting at a revival under a positive ride in a first-time visor at Ayr earlier this month. More needed to feature here.

Form: 2-96085

Flutter Down⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 82

25/1

Didn't improve sufficiently to get involved on last month's handicap debut at Kelso in December. Showed nothing after 7 weeks off over C&D last time so readily passed over on that evidence.

Form: 307-64P

Forecasts

Balranald (10/3), Sidi Ismael (4/1), Busy Street (9/2), Ottonian (11/2), Six One Nine (11/2), Claret Dabbler (10/1), Three Castles (12/1), Flutter Down (25/1)

This can go to Rebecca Menzies' BUSY STREET, who advertised his well-being when scoring in a pair of jumpers bumpers earlier this year and should be capable of better as a hurdler. He starts life in handicaps from a potentially lenient mark and may be tough to beat. Balranald heads up the dangers back up in trip after running up to his best here last time, ahead of Ottonian.