13:00 Musselburgh

Sunday 1 January 2023

All12:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

Fitzdares Happy New Year Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 6m 18.76s

Cosmic Outlaw⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Dylan Johnston⁽¹⁰⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 110| D

7/2

Returned to something like his hurdling debut form to get off the mark after 7 months off in 13-runner handicap at Kelso (25.8f, good to soft) 71 days ago, by 3½ lengths from Brandy Mcqueen, staying on well over longer trip. Remains unexposed.

Form: 31/345-1

Brandy Mcqueen²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Edward Austin⁽⁵⁾| T: H Graham & G Rutherford| OR: 108| D

9/4

Twice successful at up to 3¼m during the spring and solid efforts in defeat from inflated mark since, keeping on well to again fill runners-up spot at Aintree (24.7f) last month. Highly likely to give another good account.

Form: 114222

Lock Down Luke⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 106

7/1

Showed a good attitude to resume winning ways after 5 months off at Kelso in October but ran a moody race at Newcastle next time. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 64-1318

Wonderoftheworld^t²²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Ryan Mania| T: H McMahon| OR: 98| D

66/1

Dual winning pointer/one-time useful chaser but nothing like same force in hunters nowadays and looks best watched making a belated return to hurdling after 7 months off.

Form: 2311-2P

No Mor Isolation^p1²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 93

18/1

Last of 4 in handicap hurdle (13/2) at this course (19.8f, soft) 27 days ago. Step up in trip/first-time cheekpieces need to bring about improvement.

Form: F05004

Not The Chablis^p⁴⁶⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 93| CD

16/1

Successful at this track over the larger obstacles in March 2021 but ran below form at Perth on final outing and may just need this after 15 months off. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 2215/26-

Dolly Dancer^t⁸⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: S Mulqueen| T: M A Barnes| OR: 92| DWS

40/1

Won over fences at Hexham in June but has lost his way since. Hopes rest on a breathing operation doing the trick now switched back to hurdles.

Form: 12P655

Lastofthecosmics^p,t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: B S Hughes| T: I Jardine| OR: 87

4/1

Has slipped in the weights and returned to form back over hurdles when third of 13 in C&D handicap (soft, 12/1) 41 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 225P-73

Pasture Beach^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 81

12/1

Modest form in bumpers but has yet to match that form over hurdles, always behind upped in trip at Kelso (22.7f) last time. Improvement needed.

Form: 35-5408

Northern Falcon^b1³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 81

11/1

Twice placed in bumpers but has yet to better poor form over hurdles, though is entitled to strip fitter for his Doncaster comeback. Blinkers on for 1st time.

Form: 5696-60

Non-Runners

Starlyte⁵²

Weight: 11-13| Age: 6

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: P W Wadge

Forecasts

Brandy Mcqueen (9/4), Cosmic Outlaw (7/2), Starlyte (7/2), Lastofthecosmics (4/1), Lock Down Luke (7/1), Northern Falcon (11/1), Pasture Beach (12/1), Not The Chablis (16/1), No Mor Isolation (18/1), Dolly Dancer (40/1), Wonderoftheworld (66/1)

COSMIC OUTLAW got firmly back on track when opening his account at Kelso on his reappearance in October and a 5 lb rise looks manageable given he remains totally unexposed at the trip. Brandy McQueen seems sure to give another good account, with Newcastle-scorer Starlyte also well respected.