13:40 Musselburgh

Saturday 1 January 2022

All12:3013:0513:4014:1014:5015:25

Betway Hair Of The Dog Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 5m 0.71s

Stoner's Choice^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Max Kendrick| T: F O'Brien| OR: 140

7/2

Had a productive novice hurdle camapign last season, winning 4 times, including a handicap off only 1 lb lower. Couple of respectable efforts in handicaps this term and should give his running.

Form: 1214-36

Voix Du Reve^p³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 139| D

10/1

Smart at best and went close in 2m handicap hurdle on this card last year. Nowhere near his best this term, albeit the Fighting Fifth was always asking too much latest. Given a chance by handicapper.

Form: 2030-76

Geromino^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 133| D

10/3

Another from this yard who is enjoying a cracking season, winning a novice at Uttoxeter and handicaps at Sedgefield (2½m) and Huntingdon. Another good run when second at Doncaster latest. Respected.

Form: 341112

Strong Glance²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Murphy| OR: 129

7/1

Unreliable type who ran out for second time in career at Wincanton last month. Showed he's still useful when the mood takes him when a close second at Hereford since but he was outbattled.

Form: 100-UR2

Ashington¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 126| C| D

20/1

Successful over this trip in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield in March and a novice chase at Hexham in June. Should be sharper for a spin on the Flat 10 days ago.

Form: 5915-51

Caius Marcius^p³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 126

20/1

Capitalised on a falling mark under a good front-running ride at Market Rasen in July. Similar form when runner-up under this rider at Wetherby in November. Running well when unseating 2 out latest.

Form: 16542U

Aurora Thunder²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Conner McCann⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 117| D

17/2

Run of good form over hurdles came to a halt when pulled up in an Aintree Class 2 last month. This a bit easier but others are still preferred.

Form: 32-342P

Kavanaghs Cross^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 112

3/1

Some good placed efforts in handicaps prior to getting off the mark in a 2m Kelso maiden in a first-time tongue (retained) last month. Form boosted by third winning since. Big player.

Form: 232231

Forecasts

Kavanaghs Cross (3/1), Geromino (10/3), Stoner's Choice (7/2), Strong Glance (7/1), Aurora Thunder (17/2), Voix Du Reve (10/1), Caius Marcius (20/1), Ashington (20/1)

KAVANAGHS CROSS has a steadily progressive profile since moving to Iain Jardine and can add to last month's Kelso maiden success despite being 2 lb out of the weights here. The thriving Geronimo rates an obvious threat for the McCain/Hughes pairing, while the selection's stablemate Voix du Reve has been cut some slack by the assessor and should find this easier then the Fighting Fifth last time.