16:42 Musselburgh

Wednesday 5 July 2023

All14:3015:0515:3516:0516:4217:15

Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Handicap

Off time: 16:42 | Winning time: 59.88s

(3)

Venturous¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Billy Garritty| T: T D Barron| OR: 85| D

8/1

Fifteen runs since last win in 2022. 11/1, respectable fourth of 8 in handicap at Newmarket (6f, good) 11 days ago, left with lot to do. By no means discounted but likely to find one or two too good once more all the same.

Form: 269284

(7)

Khabib^p⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: R Craggs| OR: 82| BF| D

4/1

9/4, respectable third of 12 in handicap at Southwell (5f), not ideally placed. Off 96 days and while his record on turf (1-18) is off-putting, it's unlikely that he will be far away.

Form: 522-853

(6)

Copper Knight^t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: T D Easterby| OR: 80| BF| D

5/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2022. Last of 8 in handicap at Chester (5.1f, good, 5/2) 18 days ago. Eased in class here and down another 2 lb, so it would be no surprise were he to make a bold bid.

Form: 0-46908

(5)

Glory Fighter^p³³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: G Lee| T: P T Midgley| OR: 80| CD

5/1

3/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, much improved when winning 7-runner handicap at Catterick (5f, good to firm) 33 days ago, well on top finish. Clobbered with an 8 lb hike but another bold show anticipated.

Form: 006-331

(2)

Rock Melody¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 76| CD

5/2

4/1, didn't need to improve to win 7-runner handicap at this C&D (good) 12 days ago. This is more demanding up 3 lb.

Form: 435661

(1)

Black Friday¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mathers| T: R M Smith| OR: 73| CD

17/2

C&D winner. Seventeen runs since last win in 2021. Sixth of 9 in handicap at Ayr (6f, firm, 11/1) 11 days ago. May again find a few too strong.

Form: 4-26276

(4)

Resilience¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: S H James| T: Craig Lidster| OR: 72| D

15/2

Fifth of 8 in handicap at Ayr (5f, firm, 9/1) 11 days ago. Continues to slip down the weights but, still, he looks vulnerable judged on recent evidence.

Form: 50-4005

Forecasts

Rock Melody (5/2), Khabib (4/1), Glory Fighter (5/1), Copper Knight (5/1), Resilience (15/2), Venturous (8/1), Black Friday (17/2)

COPPER KNIGHT has failed to build on his encouraging reappearance in 4 subsequent starts but it would be no surprise were he to bounce back having dipped to a career-low mark. The 9-y-o has most to fear from Glory Fighter, who did the job well in first-time cheekpieces at Catterick last month and an 8 lb rise may not be enough to prevent another bold bid. Khabib will also be a threat if ready to roll following a 3-month break.