13:55 Musselburgh

Sunday 5 February 2023

All13:2213:5514:2514:5515:2515:5516:25

bet365 Scottish Champion Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:57 | Winning time: 3m 52.2s

Friend Or Foe^p⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140| D

6/1

Useful handicapper who won twice on his debut season over fences. Better for return when respectable fifth at Wetherby last time and can't be discounted.

Form: 3313-75

Fidelio Vallis⁴¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 139| D

10/3

Completed quickfire 4-timer over fences in the spring of 2021 and returned with good effort at Chepstow later that year. Not so good next 2 starts and off 13 months since (has left Paul Nicholls), but new yard has made a bright start and handicapper has given him a chance.

Form: 1/11244-

Dreams Of Home²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 137| D

9/2

Ended last season on a winning note at Perth and picked up where he left off by landing a 17f Kelso handicap on return in December. Not so good at Sandown since but worth another chance given overall profile.

Form: 2531-14

Hasankey^v⁸⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Lewis Dobb⁽⁷⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 137| D

14/1

Made excellent strides over fences last season, winning 3 on the bounce prior to finishing sixth of 16 in the Grand Annual at the Festival. Cracking second at Ayr on return in October and possibly found Cheltenham coming too soon less than a fortnight later. Off since and visor back on.

Form: 1116-26

Pay The Piper²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 136| D

3/1

Useful over hurdles and quickly made up into an even better chaser, scoring twice towards the end of 2021. Handicapper has seemingly had his measure this season but mark easing now at least.

Form: 24-8343

Voix Du Reve^p³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 135| D

14/1

Smart at best and cashed in on falling mark at Newcastle in March. Mixed record so far this season, however, and having first start over fences in 16 months.

Form: 14-8248

Return Ticket^p,t⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: R Menzies| OR: 132| CD

8/1

Won twice from 4 starts last season, notably listed handicap at Ayr (2m, good) in April. Not in the same form next 4 starts but back to form after 5 months off when close second at Kelso 63 days ago. Potentially on a good mark if building on that.

Form: 1-6P552

Gold Des Bois^t⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: I Jardine| OR: 129| D

10/1

Fairly useful hurdles/chase winner in Ireland and won his first race for current connections in handicap chase at Kelso (17.1f) on return. Followed up at the same C&D next time and good efforts in defeat 2 of next 3 starts, third at Doncaster 9 days ago. Player.

Form: 3-11463

Forecasts

Pay The Piper (3/1), Fidelio Vallis (10/3), Dreams Of Home (9/2), Friend Or Foe (6/1), Return Ticket (8/1), Gold Des Bois (10/1), Hasankey (14/1), Voix Du Reve (14/1)

FIDELIO VALLIS was a bit disappointing on his last 2 starts for Paul Nicholls but the handicapper has given him a chance on his return from 13 months off and his new yard has made a bright start. This does look competitive though, with Gold des Bois and Return Ticket heading the dangers.