16:45 Musselburgh

Monday 11 October 2021

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Happy Birthday Hera Hull Handicap (Div 2)

Off time: 16:48 | Winning time: 1m 3.79s

(3)

Economic Crisis²²

Age: 12| Weight: 9-9| J: Harry Russell⁽³⁾| T: A Berry| OR: 56| CD

11/2

7-time C&D winner but she arrives here on a long losing run and out of sorts in recent weeks, weakening from 2f out when seventh at Hamilton (5f) last month. Still, this looks weaker.

Form: 063807

(9)

Val De Travers⁹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lee| T: D Brooke| OR: 54

4/1

Modest form in novice/maiden company and never a threat when seventh of 12 on handicap debut at Ayr (5f) in July. Absent/switched yards since and the market may prove a useful guide here.

Form: 0757

(11)

Stronsay^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: B A Curtis| T: L Bailey| OR: 53

10/3

Infrequent winner who dispelled a lesser effort when fourth of 9 at Catterick (6f) 12 days ago, that despite racing too freely. Now just 1 lb above last winning mark and claims in an ordinary affair.

Form: 605584

(2)

Alehandro^p²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: J Garritty| T: Harvey Bastiman| OR: 51

5/1

Maiden who never figured in a couple of starts for Michael Bell and made hard work of finishing third in a C&D handicap on yard debut last month keeping on well late. Still, considered with a repeat.

Form: 247703

(10)

Talktothewall^t1³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Harrison Shaw| T: D Carroll| OR: 50

33/1

Acclamation filly who showed modest form on second of 3 starts in novice/maiden events at up to 7f. Takes a marked drop in trip now but likely to hold more chance now handicapping.

Form: 040

(6)

Earn Your Stripes^t³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Sullivan| T: R M Smith| OR: 47WS

22/1

Last of 13 in 1m handicap here 4 weeks ago, not settle fully and fading under 3f out. Mark has eased further and not one to write off having undergone wind surgery since.

Form: 297970

(4)

Gorgeous Gobolina^b1,t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Phil Dennis| T: S Corbett| OR: 46| CD

15/2

C&D winner. 11/1, again ran below form when eighth of 9 in handicap at Newcastle (5f) 35 days ago, ridden under 2f out and dropping away. Blinkers need to have positive effect now.

Form: 098808

(7)

Mansfield²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: Jonny Peate⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 45| D

6/1

Fifteen runs since last win in 2020. 18/1, eighth of 11 in handicap at Wolverhampton (5.1f) 27 days ago. Best effort this term came over C&D so no forlorn hope with yard amongst the winner.

Form: 742968

(12)

Bobby Shaftoe^p¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 45

40/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 100/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, ninth of 10 in handicap at Ayr (7.2f) 13 days ago, racing closer to pace than ideal. Still early days now dropping to the minimum trip.

Form: 6909

(1)

Trulove^b⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: Kieran Schofield⁽⁵⁾| T: J Riches| OR: 45| D

33/1

One win from 48 Flat runs. Sixteen runs since last win in 2019. 40/1, eighth of 9 in handicap at Catterick (6f, good to firm) 47 days ago. More needed.

Form: 685078

(5)

Summer Heights²⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Joanna Mason⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 45

33/1

Long-standing maiden who showed very little all 4 starts on AW during second half of last year and she needs to bounce back returning from a 9 month absence now.

Form: 990000-

(8)

Tilsworth Valerie²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Connor Beasley| T: J R Jenkins| OR: 45

50/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 100/1, sixth of 8 in handicap at Yarmouth (5.2f, good to soft) 27 days ago. Needs to step up a good deal on what she has showed to date to feature.

Form: 8066

Forecasts

Stronsay (10/3), Val De Travers (4/1), Alehandro (5/1), Economic Crisis (11/2), Mansfield (6/1), Gorgeous Gobolina (15/2), Earn Your Stripes (22/1), Summer Heights (33/1), Trulove (33/1), Talktothewall (33/1), Bobby Shaftoe (40/1), Tilsworth Valerie (50/1)

STRONSAY doesn't find winning easy but he returned to form in a change of headgear when fourth at Catterick (6f) 12 days ago and he could well be the answer to this tricky puzzle. Alehandro, who was third in a C&D event last time and Mansfield are a couple of others to consider.