15:20 Musselburgh

Sunday 1 January 2023

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

Fitzdares Hair Of The Dog Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 5m 16.43s

Gaelik Coast^t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 133| CD

12/1

Useful winning chaser and in good form back hurdling this season, winning at Worcester in June and back to his best when runner-up at Doncaster (19.4f, good) last month. This looks tougher, however.

Form: 519382

Benson^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 128

2/1

Ended last term in disappointing fashion but back on track in filling runners-up spot on all 3 starts for new yard this year, not doing much wrong behind a game rival at Aintree (20f, good to soft) last month. Cheekpieces back on today.

Form: 846-222

Findthetime⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 126| BF| D

11/2

Very progressive over hurdles last season, completing a hat-trick in the mud at Wetherby (19.7f) in February. Improved again when runner-up there on reappearance in October but disappointed when sent off favourite at Haydock a month later. Bounce back required.

Form: 2111-26

Excelcius^p1²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Craig Nichol| T: I Jardine| OR: 122

125/1

Fairly useful hurdler for Thomas Mullins in Ireland, successful 3 times in 2021. However, he's yet to fire on both starts for his new yard so has plenty to prove. Cheekpieces applied today.

Form: 1051-F5

Aurora Thunder⁷²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 120| CD

25/1

Resumed with good second of 10 in handicap hurdle at Perth (20.2f) in May. Run probably best excused after 5 months off at Cheltenham (19.9f, good) in October but will need to get back on track today.

Form: 123F-2P

Holmes St Georges⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 119| C

10/3

Made a successful transition to handicaps when winning 5-runner event (7/4) at this track (15.6f, heavy) 2 months ago. 9 lb higher mark demands more but he's certainly going the right way.

Form: 417-421

Ginger Mail³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N W Alexander| OR: 117

9/1

Promising sort who improved again to double his tally in a 7-runner handicap hurdle at Ayr on reappearance. Limitations exposed in a better race at Haydock (18.9f, good to soft) next time so needs to get back on track here.

Form: 85U1-13

Ilanz^h²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: M F Harris| OR: 115

4/1

Bumper winner who arrives on a hat-trick after ready handicap successes at Market Rasen and Taunton last month. Hiked up 12 lb now but he's still not taken lightly.

Form: 124311

Non-Runners

Navajo Pass⁶³

Weight: 11-6| Age: 7

T: D McCain Jnr J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Benson (2/1), Holmes St Georges (10/3), Ilanz (4/1), Findthetime (11/2), Navajo Pass (11/2), Ginger Mail (9/1), Gaelik Coast (12/1), Aurora Thunder (25/1), Excelcius (125/1)

ILANZ found another chunk of improvement to double his tally over timber at Taunton last month and with further progress on the cards, he's fancied to defy a 12 lb hike in the weights and complete the hat-trick. Benson has filled the runner-up spot on all 3 starts for this yard so far and he may have to settle for silver once again, ahead of Holmes St Georges and Findthetime.