13:35 Musselburgh

Sunday 1 January 2023

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

Fitzdares 'Auld Reekie' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 5m 31.24s

Minella Drama⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 145| D

5/2

Smart hurdler/chaser, winning a Grade 2 novice chase last season. Respectable efforts in defeat in 2 conditions races this autumn and ought to be competitive back in a handicap.

Form: 5142-43

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Pay The Piper²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 138

3/1

Useful over hurdles and quickly made up into an even better chaser last season, scoring at Wetherby and Newcastle. All the better for his reappearance when third of 6 at Kelso (17f) last month and he likely would have gone close if he'd jumped better. Thereabouts if keeping errors down.

Form: 1224-83

Gold Des Bois^t⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny McMenamin| T: I Jardine| OR: 128

12/1

Fairly useful hurdles/chase winner in Ireland and put it all together for present yard of late, landing back-to-back 17f Kelso handicaps this autumn. Creditable fourth of 8 at Cheltenham last time. Running well when unseating 2 out in this race last year.

Form: 453-114

Cooper's Cross²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 128| D

3/1

Is progressing well and made a winning return from 6 months off in 7-runner handicap at Carlisle (2½m) in October. Just as good when third of 13 in a competitive race at Aintree and he's a major player here.

Form: 12P-213

Cedar Hill²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: D R Fox| T: A M Thomson| OR: 122| BF| C

10/1

Won twice last season, including over 2m here. Placed on first 2 starts this term but behind a couple of these rivals when last of 6 at Kelso latest. Back up in trip.

Form: 150-236

Half Shot⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: I Jardine| OR: 118| CD

7/1

Made it 3-5 for his current yard when making all in a 2½m course handicap hurdle 6 weeks ago. Had won over fences at Sedgefield prior to that. New mark demands more but no shock were he to find it.

Form: 431-411

Antey^t²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 112| D

40/1

Useful at one time for Willie Mullins but offered little in 4 starts for Patrick Griffin and comfortably held in 3 outings over hurdles for this yard. 7 lb out of the handicap back chasing. Can only be watched.

Form: 45P-435

Non-Runners

Dubai Days²⁸

Weight: 10-8| Age: 9

T: N W Alexander J: Non Runner

Baron De Midleton³⁰

Weight: 10-3| Age: 10

T: B Ellison J: P W Wadge

Forecasts

Minella Drama (5/2), Cooper's Cross (3/1), Pay The Piper (3/1), Baron De Midleton (5/1), Half Shot (7/1), Cedar Hill (10/1), Gold Des Bois (12/1), Dubai Days (12/1), Antey (40/1)

COOPER'S CROSS has returned an improved performer and is taken to resume winning ways on the back of a good run in a competitive handicap at Aintree. Pay The Piper can hit the odd fence but he certainly has it in him to go close off this mark and is feared most ahead of Baron de Midleton, who has been in good form since blinkers have been applied.