15:20 Musselburgh

Thursday 30 November 2023

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

Maxrecycle Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 6m 30.57s

Champ Royal^p,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Coltherd| T: S Corbett| OR: 99

16/1

Looked better than ever when making a winning start for this yard at Hexham in October. Isn't the most consistent though and followed that with a below-par display back there last time.

Form: 513P16

Native Fighter^p⁹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlotte Jones⁽³⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 99

20/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2021 but stopped the slide with cheekpieces refitted when second in 9-runner handicap at Cartmel (22.1f, soft) in August. On a good mark, so big chance if building on that.

Form: 554-P72

Round The Buoy^p,t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 96| D

13/2

Fair winning hurdler for David Dunne. Yet to fire for current yard but hinted at a revival at Chepstow last time and market support would make him interesting.

Form: P/PP-676

Rickety Gate²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁵⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 96| CD

3/1

C&D winner in 2022 and ran creditably in latest renewal of that race 22 days ago, running on. Should give another good account.

Form: 1F0-623

The Blame Game^p¹⁸⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart| OR: 93

22/1

All 3 career victories gained at Sedgefield, capitalising on a falling mark there (3m3f) in February. Found to be lame when pulled up at Kelso 3 months later and off since. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 8PP51-P

Sanosuke^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 93

6/1

Fairly useful on the Flat in Ireland and he strung a couple of good efforts together over hurdles at Perth during the spring, twice filling the runners-up spot. Stepped up on return when fifth of 13 over C&D 22 days ago but more is needed if he's to open his account in this sphere.

Form: 622-2P5

Theirshegoes³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 91

7/2

Took a step forward despite still doing plenty wrong under pressure when third on handicap debut at Perth in April. Decent fourth at Newcastle last time and shaped as if needing the run when fifth at Kelso (25.8f) on last month's return. Yard going better now and needs considering.

Form: 8543-45

Shantou Moon^b1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Reed| T: T Davidson| OR: 90

11/2

Backed at long odds equipped with first-time cheekpieces and ran out a clear winner of a Kelso handicap hurdle in February. Followed that with a couple of creditable efforts in defeat and shaped as if better for the run on recent return at aforementioned venue. Blinkers on for 1st time.

Form: 0144-75

Blended Stealth^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 79

17/2

Remains a maiden after 22 NH runs but is best excused his most recent outing at Hexham, having gone off too hard. Significantly back up in trip.

Form: 4-03705

Kurphy⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Craig Nichol| T: I Jardine| OR: 78

28/1

Well held in bumpers/all 3 starts over hurdles, though showed a bit more last time and may make more impact now handicapping up markedly in trip.

Form: 90-658

Misscarlett^p⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 76| BF

28/1

Placed twice over hurdles last spring but well beaten both starts back on the level since, so has something to prove.

Form: 628723-

Non-Runners

Ivynator⁷⁴

Weight: 10-3| Age: 5

T: Mrs J C McGregor J: Alan Doyle

Forecasts

Rickety Gate (3/1), Theirshegoes (7/2), Shantou Moon (11/2), Sanosuke (6/1), Round The Buoy (13/2), Blended Stealth (17/2), Champ Royal (16/1), Native Fighter (20/1), The Blame Game (22/1), Misscarlett (28/1), Kurphy (28/1), Ivynator (66/1)

The Sandy Thomson stable has been showing much better signs in recent days, so THEIRSHEGOES gets the nod to build on an encouraging return at Kelso and open her account. Native Fighter hasn't won for a long time but stopped the slide at Cartmel in August and is too well handicapped to ignore. C&D winner Rickety Gate completes the shortlist.