12:45 Musselburgh

Monday 20 December 2021

All12:1512:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:15

Happy 50th Birthday Kirsty McIntosh Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:45 | Winning time: 3m 50.3s

Sarvi^b¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Reed| T: J S Goldie| OR: 99| CD

9/2

C&D winner who comes here in good nick, fifth of 10 in 20f handicap here 14 days ago. Back down in trip with blinkers refitted. Player.

Form: 142525

Set In Stone¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 99| BF| C| D

5/1

Scored at Carlisle in Ocober but only ninth in handicap on Flat at Southwell 13 days ago. Sort to get back on track returned to this sphere.

Form: 1084-13

Gemologist^t⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Conner McCann⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 96

5/2

Remains a maiden after 23 runs, but she posted creditable third of 6 in handicap over C&D 51 days ago. Not ruled out off 1 lb lower mark.

Form: 2249-33

Smart Lass^p³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: I Jardine| OR: 92| C

3/1

Dual scorer on the level here in 2021, but she came in last of 7 in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (19.8f) 39 days ago. Cheekpieces back on with more required.

Form: U/487-57

Durragh^h¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 86

8/1

Had breathing up and off 5 months before encouraging fifth of 9 in 2m handicap hurdle at Leicester 18 days ago. Well in the mix if building on that effort.

Form: 5-22345

Sweet Justice^p¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Dowson| T: V Thompson| OR: 83

200/1

Poor maiden hurdler. 200/1, remote fourth of 7 in novice at Hexham (16.2f) 12 days ago. Others appeal more.

Form: 568904

Walkonby^p²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 79

18/1

Cheekpieces on and best effort over hurdles when sixth of 8 in 2m novice at Wetherby 26 days ago. A fair winner on the level. so she's much respected now going into handicaps.

Form: 90-6

The Wild Wild Sea⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 77WS

10/1

Has offered little in three runs over hurdles, eleventh of 15 in novice at Carlisle (17.2f) 42 days ago. Makes handicap debut now after a wind op with lots to find on form.

Form: 27-7770

Forecasts

Gemologist (5/2), Smart Lass (3/1), Sarvi (9/2), Set In Stone (5/1), Durragh (8/1), The Wild Wild Sea (10/1), Walkonby (18/1), Sweet Justice (200/1)

A tight-knit hanicap in which SARVI edges the vote given she arrives in very good order and can race off a 2 lb lower mark than when fifth here a fortnight ago. Durragh can have a big say if building on her recent Leicester fifth after a break, with handicap-debutante Walkonby in the mix too.