15:10 Musselburgh

Saturday 5 February 2022

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

bet365 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 3m 47.97s

Wor Verge^p,t²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: S Corbett| OR: 110| D

18/1

Improved for fitting of cheekpieces this winter, landing back-to-back handicaps at around 2m. Not in quite the same form from career-high mark at Wetherby (2m) latest but certainly no forlon hope.

Form: 522117

Chuvelo⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 109

6/1

Dual bumper winner who finally justified short odds over hurdles at Bangor (16.6f) in May. Not built on that either start in handicaps, including after 7 months off at Market Rasen in December.

Form: 353-156

El Jefe^h¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 105

8/1

Gained breakthrough success at Sedgefield (16.8f) in December and better form when runner-up at Catterick (15.7f) on penultimate start. Shade keen at Newcastle latest and best treated as still in form

Form: F41525

Blooriedotcom³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 103| CD

8/1

In fine form when scoring twice over C&D here in early-2020. Seen out only 3 times since but his latest fourth place finish over 19.8f here in January was a step back in the right direction.

Form: 121/P-54

Gemologist^p,t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 98| BF

10/1

Maiden who again filled the placings when runner-up over C&D in December, staying on run-in. Best not judged too harshly on her unseat back here since and she's a credible each-way player again.

Form: 49-332U

Get With It^h,t³⁰⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 97WS

18/1

Low-mileage 7-y-o who showed ability on first of 2 starts in novice hurdles last winter. Failed to progress in handicaps during the spring and wind op needs to have had positive effect ahead of return

Form: 65/44F0-

Saryshagann^t1²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 95

8/1

Fairly useful but ungenuine on Flat (stays 11f). More encouragement than previously for new yard when midfield in 14-runner handicap hurdle at Kelso recently and this sharper test may suit ideally.

Form: 324/777

Sarvi^p³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Reed| T: J S Goldie| OR: 94| CD

16/1

C&D winner from 2 lb higher mark last winter and went in again at Perth in July. Largely creditable efforts in this sphere in recent months and type to bounce back from rare below par display latest.

Form: 252558

Jack Yeats^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 93

10/1

Fair ex-Irish Flat winner but he's yet to match that form in this sphere, his jumping not helping his cause when midfield in 11-runner Newcastle handicap last month. Mark has eased a little more.

Form: 30-0666

My Macho Man^t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Callum Bewley| T: M A Barnes| OR: 90

10/1

Still looking for first success over hurdles but better than bare result when fifth in a C&D handicap last month, bad mistake 4 out and not recover. Not out of things from career-low mark.

Form: 698255

Smart Lass^t1³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 88| C

11/4

Dual scorer on the level here in 2021 and definite promise to glean from placed efforts over hurdles of late, third over further here (19.8f) last time. One to be interested in on balance.

Form: 87-5733

Saltmarket²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Miss L A Perratt| OR: 74

150/1

Poor maiden hurdler with little form over fences, pulled up in that sphere at Ayr (16.5f) in January. Passed over from out of the weights returned to timber.

Form: 9P9PFP

Forecasts

Smart Lass (11/4), Chuvelo (6/1), Saryshagann (8/1), Blooriedotcom (8/1), El Jefe (8/1), Jack Yeats (10/1), My Macho Man (10/1), Gemologist (10/1), Sarvi (16/1), Get With It (18/1), Wor Verge (18/1), Saltmarket (150/1)

SMART LASS turned in her best effort of the season from her sliding mark when third over further here last month and, with the drop back in trip holding no fears, she could well be the answer. Saryshagann may well benefit from the return to this sharper test and is also worth a look, along with My Macho Man.