15:35 Musselburgh

Sunday 4 February 2024

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:35

bet365 Scottish Champion Chase (Handicap Chase) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 5m 10.9s

Tommy's Oscar⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 156| C

8/1

Smart hurdler and even better over fences, winning Grade 2 at Doncaster last term. Better than ever when making a winning return at Kelso before shaping as if still in good form in a muddling Old Roan. Disappointed back over hurdles since but expected to bounce back.

Form: 212-147

Thunder Rock^p1⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: O Murphy| OR: 146| BF| CD

10/3

Four-time hurdle winner who has developed into a smart chaser, readily taking a small-field Carlisle listed event on reappearance. Failed to cope with the sterner examination of a top-level handicap at Cheltenham next time but back down in class here with headgear applied.

Form: 3362-1P

A Wave Of The Sea³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: K Brogan| T: B Haslam| OR: 142| D

33/1

Useful handicap chaser for Joseph Patrick O'Brien, in frame in Galway Plate and Munster National this season. However, has failed to complete both starts for this yard so has questions to answer.

Form: 4404PU

Corrigeen Rock³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 139

11/2

Took another step forward when making winning return from 6 months off at Kempton (18f) in October and creditable effort when fourth in stronger company at Ascot (16.7f) since. Suited by step up in trip when second (clear of rest) over C&D 5 weeks ago and he's a player up only 1 lb.

Form: 261-142

Petit Tonnerre³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 137

3/1

Useful hurdler who has looked a work in progress over fences this winter, again unconvincing with his jumping back in a handicap at Cheltenham 5 weeks ago. Back up in trip now but opposable up against seasoned campaigners.

Form: P57-244

Frero Banbou¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 136| BF

17/2

Winless for over 2 years but hard to knock his consistency this term, again jumping/travelling fluently when second in a better race than this at Cheltenham (20.6f) on New Year's Day. Lost all chance with a mid-race blunder at Lingfield 2 weeks ago and worth another chance.

Form: 0-3232P

Outlaw Peter^t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135

7/2

Enjoyed a productive novice hurdle season, winning 3 times. Won a match race on his chase debut/reappearance at Newton Abbot in September and much improved when second at Kempton on Boxing Day. Surely has more to offer as a chaser.

Form: 119-1P2

Arthur's Quay^t⁷²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 132| C| D

28/1

Won 3 on the bounce last winter and back on the scoresheet with a decisive display at Cartmel (21.2f) in July. Followed up at Caterick 5 months later but that looked a thin handicap by 0-130 standards so has work to do up 3 lb in better race.

Form: 32-9411

Non-Runners

Magna Sam¹

Weight: 10-2| Age: 10

T: A Ralph J: Alex Edwards

Forecasts

Petit Tonnerre (3/1), Thunder Rock (10/3), Outlaw Peter (7/2), Corrigeen Rock (11/2), Tommy's Oscar (8/1), Frero Banbou (17/2), Arthur's Quay (28/1), A Wave Of The Sea (33/1), Magna Sam (33/1)

The classy TOMMY'S OSCAR often keep better company than this and has looked better than ever over fences this season, so can defy top weight. Frero Banbou lost all chance with a bad blunder at Lingfield 2 weeks ago and remains of interest, while Corrigeen Rock surely has more to offer over this trip after his good second over C&D on New Year's Day.