14:03 Musselburgh

Saturday 4 February 2023

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

bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:03 | Winning time: 8m 22.0s

Slipway⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Luca Morgan| T: B Pauling| OR: 140| D

4/1

Progressive sort who made it 3 wins from 4 completed starts over fences when landing the 11-runner Southern National at Fontwell (27.7f, good) in November. 7 lb rise tolerable and another bold show anticipated.

Form: P1P51-1

Mighty Thunder^p,t⁶¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: P W Wadge⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 139| C

50/1

Won the 2021 Scottish Grand National but has failed to complete on 4 of his 5 subsequent starts over fences, including when pulled up in this race 12 months ago. Plenty to prove at present.

Form: PPP-0PF

Truckers Lodge^b³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137

11/2

Winless since landing the 2020 Midlands Grand National but he is steadily coming down the weights and was by no means disgraced when fourth of 17 in the Welsh National at Chepstow (30.6f, soft) last time. Couldn't rule out.

Form: 5336-94

Doyen Breed^p³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Burke| T: A M Thomson| OR: 136

13/2

Hexham novice chase winner and was twice runner-up in Grade 2 events last season. Safely held on return over hurdles (first run following a wind op) at Doncaster but likely he'll be sharper back over fences here with cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 1222F-7

The Wolf^b1,t³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Brennan| T: O Murphy| OR: 135

9/1

Back on track (following another wind op) when second on return at Cheltenham in October. However, hasn't been in the same form both starts since and others are more appealing, for all that he was runner-up in this off 2 lb higher last year.

Form: 227-208

Captain Cattistock^p,t⁵⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 131| BF| CD

10/1

Ended last season on a high, accounting for The Wolf and 4 others in this race 12 months ago prior to scoring over 3¼m at Cheltenham. Failed to build on encouraging reappearance when only fourth back at Prestbury Park last time but he merits respect all the same.

Form: 5P11-34

Regina Dracones³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T Gibney| OR: 128

16/1

Three wins as a novice last season but let down by her jumping this term, last seen taking a heavy fall in the Welsh National. Probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: 12P-F5F

Innisfree Lad^v⁴⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: David Dennis| OR: 127

22/1

Useful form at best last year (third in Eider Chase at Newcastle) and all the better for reappearance run when second at Carlisle in October. However, below par both subsequent starts and there's an air of vulnerability about him.

Form: P4-62P7

Tide Times²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Fergus Gregory| T: Ian Williams| OR: 124

18/1

Back-to-back winner over 23.8f at Ludlow last season and again hit the target at that course when landing a 6-runner handicap (25.6f, soft) last month. 2 lb nudge fair enough but this is a stiffer assignment.

Form: 11-6021

Flower Of Scotland⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Danny McMenamin| T: A M Thomson| OR: 122

6/1

Built on encouraging reappearance third at Carlisle when landing the Scottish Borders National (32.4f, soft) in decisive fashion, making it 3-3 at Kelso in the process. This 8 lb higher demands a new personal best but she has to enter calculations.

Form: 1444-31

The Ferry Master³²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: A M Thomson| OR: 120

10/1

Progressed very well over fences during 2020/21 campaign, notably finishing fourth in that season's Scottish Grand National. However, he has subsequently failed to reproduce that level of form and looks up against it here.

Form: 429-5P3

Magna Sam²⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 120| C

22/1

Wide-margin winner of back-to-back, small-field handicap chases over 3m here for Sophie Leech last season. However, pulled up at Aintree on final run of that campaign and entitled to come on for this belated seasonal reappearance/debut for new yard.

Form: P5113-P

Just Don't Know²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: Paul Robson| OR: 117

11/1

Successful twice last term and deservedly got his head back in front when landing a 4-runner Kelso handicap (23.4f, heavy) from the front last month, despite racing lazily at times. Promises to stay this far and not without each-way hope.

Form: 124-221

Forecasts

Slipway (4/1), Truckers Lodge (11/2), Flower Of Scotland (6/1), Doyen Breed (13/2), The Wolf (9/1), Captain Cattistock (10/1), The Ferry Master (10/1), Just Don't Know (11/1), Regina Dracones (16/1), Tide Times (18/1), Magna Sam (22/1), Innisfree Lad (22/1), Mighty Thunder (50/1)

This marathon trip could be just the ticket for DOYEN BREED, who held his own in decent company as a novice last season and he should be all the better following his pipe-opener over hurdles at Doncaster. The 8-y-o has edged down to an attractive mark, too, and gets the nod in an open-looking contest. Slipway is still progressing judged on his latest success at Fontwell and he looks a big threat. Truckers Lodge and Flower of Scotland are others with appealing claims.