16:25 Musselburgh

Sunday 5 February 2023

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

bet365 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:26 | Winning time: 4m 55.81s

I Am Gonna Be⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Luca Morgan| T: M Scudamore| OR: 109| D

17/2

Career best when winning 7-runner novice hurdle at Newcastle (20.3f, soft, 8/11) 80 days ago, pushed out. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Open to further improvement and should take the beating.

Form: F218-21

They Call Me Pete⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Patrick Cowley⁽³⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 107

7/1

Offered little in a bumper for Jimmy Fox last winter but hurdles not devoid of promise, runner-up in a novice at Market Rasen last time. Interesting.

Form: 6-542

Jem In Em³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 107| BF

11/2

Placed only start in points and did well under the circumstances to make winning Rules/bumper debut at Perth (16.2f). Fair form so far over hurdles but this drop back in trip might not suit.

Form: 3-1723

Garde Des Champs²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Billy Garritty| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 107

5/2

Has looked back in form the last twice, travelling smoothly when second at Doncaster last time. Should go well again.

Form: 247-P42

Kilbrainy⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: A M Thomson| OR: 105

6/1

Fair in bumpers and similar form over hurdles, making a solid start to his handicap career when second over C&D in November. Solid claims.

Form: 4-63F42

Zafar^p⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 105| CD

6/1

Consistent sort who won over C&D last season and arrives in form, so he's worthy of consideration.

Form: 5224-63

Maggie Barrett²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: P W Wadge⁽⁷⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 102| D

18/1

Built on her stable debut when landing 4-runner maiden hurdle here (19.8f, soft) in November and not discredited in a handicap next time. Should be on the premises.

Form: 393314

Sanosuke^p⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 100

28/1

Fairly useful on the Flat in Ireland. Has yet to match that form over hurdles, however and others make more appeal.

Form: 324-357

Idilico^p³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Henry Brooke| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 100| CD

25/1

Resumed winning ways from 3 lb lower mark at Perth (20f) in September. Excuses next two starts and disappointing run over fences is easily passed over. Not completely dismissed.

Form: 512649

Vintage Valley^p¹⁰⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 110WS

14/1

Left hurdling debut form well behind in first-time cheekpieces when making all at Wetherby and lesser run in better company there is easily excused. Not without a chance on handicap debut.

Form: 413

Coral Blue^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Craig Nichol| T: D Bourke| OR: 94

22/1

Back to winning ways when making all in handicap hurdle at Kelso (20.9f) in November and backed up that effort when second at Newcastle on Boxing Day. Sub-par effort last time but not completely dismissed.

Form: 548126

Darkest Day^p,t1²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁷⁾| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 82

66/1

Off the mark at Plumpton for Gary Moore in March 2021 and runner-up twice for this yard in June of that year. However, he has shown nothing so far this term. Tongue tied now.

Form: 2280-PP

Non-Runners

Pharisees⁴¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: G P Cromwell J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Garde Des Champs (5/2), Jem In Em (11/2), Kilbrainy (6/1), Zafar (6/1), They Call Me Pete (7/1), I Am Gonna Be (17/2), Vintage Valley (14/1), Pharisees (14/1), Maggie Barrett (18/1), Coral Blue (22/1), Idilico (25/1), Sanosuke (28/1), Darkest Day (66/1)

I AM GONNA BE was impressive in a novice at Newcastle when last seen and he's preferred to the in-form Garde des Champs. Zafar, a winner here around this time last year, is another one to consider.