15:16 Musselburgh

Saturday 4 February 2023

All13:2814:0314:3515:1615:4816:20

bet365 Scottish County Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 3m 41.1s

Camprond^h⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 142| D

14/1

Smart effort to win a big-field handicap at the Punchestown Festival last spring but didn't take to fences on return to action in November and well beaten on completed start back hurdling last month. Hood refitted.

Form: 41-U4B0

Band of Outlaws²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: K Brogan| T: B Haslam| OR: 137| D

80/1

One-time useful hurdler who has been seen out sparingly in the last couple of years. Well beaten on his return to action for a new stable at Sandown last month. The handicapper has dropped him 5 lb for that but he could only be considered if backed.

Form: 1523/6-0

Nayati³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 135| CD

9/2

Has returned better than ever from a long lay-off, scoring readily at Bangor before bagging a nice prize over C&D (Collingham 2 lengths back in second) on New Year's Day. That form has been boosted so a 3 lb rise looks more than fair.

Form: 3/13161

Lebowski⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Luca Morgan| T: M Scudamore| OR: 129| D

11/2

Looked promising when easily winning 2m novice hurdles at Ffos Las and Ayr last season and got off the mark in handicaps at the second attempt with a taking success at Wetherby (2m again) on his reappearance. Raised 7 lb but he has the potential for better again. Respected.

Form: 5/11P0-1

Inca Prince^h¹³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 124| CD

16/1

Free-going front-runner who won a pair of C&D juveniles at the start of 2022 but has struggled over hurdles/on the Flat since. A 4-month break needs to have had a reviving effect.

Form: 1151P-0

Parisencore⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 124| D

9/1

Made it three wins from his last four starts in 2m handicap hurdle at Wetherby in October, just holding on. Not in same form in a better race at Newbury since and needs to bounce back after a 10-week break.

Form: 211-215

Grivetana³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 122| BF| D

9/2

Dual winner last term and progressed again when runner-up in handicap company over 2m at Newbury (good/good to firm) on first 2 outings this season. May well have been unsuited by testing ground when well held there on New Year's Eve. Capable of bouncing back. Yard won this twice in recent years.

Form: 414-226

Kihavah^p1,t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 122| CD

11/2

In winning form on the Flat last year and he resumed over timber with a good second of 12 in a competitive 2m handicap at Market Rasen in September. Has failed to complete on both hurdle starts since but his recent AW Flat fifth was respectable. Has first-time cheekpieces added to a tongue strap.

Form: 105-2FP

Collingham³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Charlie Maggs⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 121| CD

11/2

C&D winner who got back on the scoresheet when landing 6-runner handicap at Wetherby on return in October. Creditable efforts in defeat since, notably when chasing home reopposing stablemate Nayati over C&D on New Year's Day. Big player off an unchanged mark.

Form: 26-1232

Socialist Agenda^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Craig Nichol| T: L Morgan| OR: 120| CD

11/1

Won this race 12 months ago. Another good effort over C&D when runner-up in December but he was well behind reopposing Donald McCain pair Nayati and Collingham back here on New Year's Day. Cheekpieces off this time.

Form: 118-826

Forecasts

Grivetana (9/2), Nayati (9/2), Collingham (11/2), Kihavah (11/2), Lebowski (11/2), Parisencore (9/1), Socialist Agenda (11/1), Camprond (14/1), Inca Prince (16/1), Band of Outlaws (80/1)

GRIVETANA had the ground as an excuse at Newbury last time. Her second in the Gerry Feilden there prior to that reads well and she can bounce back and provide the Paul Nicholls yard with a third win in this race since 2017. Stablemates Nayati and Collingham, first and second in a useful C&D contest on New Year's Day, can give the selection most to do ahead of Wetherby scorer Lebowski.