14:10 Musselburgh

Thursday 30 November 2023

All11:5512:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

Athelstaneford - Birthplace Of The Saltire Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:13 | Winning time: 3m 57.68s

Ip Up⁹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 12-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 107| D

9/2

Fair hurdler/chaser in France who struck at the third time of asking for current yard in 2m Fakenham handicap 9 days ago. Did that easily and a 7 lb penalty is unlikely to prevent another prominent showing.

Form: 632-531

The Churchill Lad²²

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 113| D

14/1

Won juvenile events at Cartmel and Catterick early last season. Off 8 months, shaped as if better for the run when seventh of 9 over C&D 22 days ago.

Form: 14275-7

Bix Beiderbecke¹⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: P W Wadge⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 111| D

18/1

Fair form in bumpers and came good at the second time of asking over hurdles in 2m Perth novice in May. Very much unexposed now making a quick switch to handicap company on his return to action.

Form: 463-1

Cuban Cigar^p,t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 110| C| D

17/2

Held his form admirably well last term, deservedly getting his head back in front in the Final of this series here in March. Another creditable effort when fourth of 9 over C&D last time and can be expected to give his running again.

Form: 3312-24

Socialist Agenda²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: K Brogan| T: L Morgan| OR: 104| CD

5/1

Former C&D winner but hasn't shown enough back hurdling in recent weeks to suggest he's in good enough form to take advantage of his falling mark.

Form: 67-8568

Scots Poet^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 104| CD

9/2

C&D winner and another good effort here when second of 9 over C&D 3 weeks ago. Likely to be in the thick of things again.

Form: 134-242

Lihyan^h²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 100

13/2

Comfortable winner of Cork maiden hurdle (17f) last summer but still to reproduce his Irish form for current yard. Off 5 months, again raced keenly and didn't find much come the crunch when fifth of 10 at Ayr 26 days ago.

Form: 7340-55

Darkest Day^p,t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 95| D

33/1

Scored twice at Kelso in September but has reverted to his weak-finishing ways the last twice.

Form: 491176

Bashful^p,t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: I Jardine| OR: 95| D

10/3

Won a 2m Uttoxeter handicap hurdle last November and better than ever on the Flat this year, winning 4 times. If he can translate that improvement back to hurdles he's on a lenient mark.

Form: 4/01234-

Forecasts

Bashful (10/3), Ip Up (9/2), Scots Poet (9/2), Socialist Agenda (5/1), Lihyan (13/2), Cuban Cigar (17/2), The Churchill Lad (14/1), Bix Beiderbecke (18/1), Darkest Day (33/1)

BASHFUL has been an improved performer on the Flat this year, suggesting he could be on a good mark back hurdling from a mark in the mid-90s. Ip Up is an obvious danger on the back of last week's comfortable Fakenham success, while Perth novice winner Bix Beiderbecke is a potential improver in handicaps.