15:50 Musselburgh

Sunday 18 February 2024

All13:4514:1514:4515:2015:5016:2016:50

Every Race Live On Racing TV Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 5m 14.30s

Blow The Budget^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 97

25/1

Modest in bumpers and showed more on third hurdles outing when fifth of 12 in novice at Ayr (16f, soft) in December. Prominent in the betting on handicap debut fitted with a tongue tie but she proved to be a disappointment. Up in trip.

Form: 54-P358

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Beat The Retreat^t⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N W Alexander| OR: 91| BF

7/1

Showed improved form to get off the mark in 8-runner handicap hurdle at Ayr (18f, soft, 9/1) in December. Heavily backed to follow up over 20.5f there a fortnight later but was hampered early and could never get involved.

Form: 342-417

Barney Stinson²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: D R Fox| T: A Nicol| OR: 88

8/1

Long-standing maiden who doesn't appear to be about to buck that trend despite a sliding mark, often held back by jumping.

Form: 232-558

Theirshegoes⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 88

7/2

Still to get her head in front but this slightly shorter trip may help after failing to see out 3m in recent starts.

Form: 43-4555

Donso Star⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Ben Smith⁽¹⁰⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 88

25/1

Maiden hurdler who hasn't been firing lately, jumping poorly at Newcastle. Others make more appeal.

Form: U35-696

Eden Mill^t⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Craig Nichol| T: D W Whillans| OR: 86

4/1

Resumed with a good second at Kelso (21f, soft) in November and built on that when scoring with a good deal to spare over the same C&D next time. Found less than looked likely at Newcastle last time and a tongue tie goes on again.

Form: 23P-215

Wotyoudunnow Buddy^b¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Coltherd| T: S Corbett| OR: 85

9/1

Showed fair form on the second of 3 outings in bumpers. Little impact in novice hurdles but handicaps provided him with a more realistic chance and he found only one too good in blinkers at Catterick 16 days ago.

Form: 7PP6P2

Dot Cotton^t⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: R P McLernon| T: R M Smith| OR: 84

14/1

Still looking for her first win but has slipped in the weights and got back on track when second over C&D in December. On the retreat when unseating rider latest.

Form: 75472U

Everyonesacritic^p1⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: Evan Williams| OR: 82

11/1

Fetched £40,000 after winning his sole start in Irish points and hinted at promise when fourth of 7 in novice hurdle at Chepstow (16f, soft). Never a factor at Taunton but looks the type to do much better now handicapping.

Form: 1-540

Kian Calling⁶⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽⁵⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 75

20/1

Showed some promise in bumpers and, while he's yet to match that encouragement over hurdles, there's scope for him to do better with his belated reappearance under his belt.

Form: 54975/P

Kurphy^p1⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 72

25/1

Well held in bumpers and on qualifying runs over hurdles, though hadn't yet been asked for effort when making a chance-ending mistake on handicap debut here in November. Ran no sort of race at Sedgefield since, though.

Form: 0-6589P

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 10p in the pound

Non-Runners

Sanosuke⁶²

Weight: 12-0| Age: 6

T: N W Alexander J: Bruce Lynn

Forecasts

Theirshegoes (7/2), Eden Mill (4/1), Sanosuke (6/1), Beat The Retreat (7/1), Barney Stinson (8/1), Wotyoudunnow Buddy (9/1), Everyonesacritic (11/1), Dot Cotton (14/1), Kian Calling (20/1), Donso Star (25/1), Kurphy (25/1), Blow The Budget (25/1)

WOTYOUDUNNOW BUDDY showed form more in keeping with his bumper level when second on handicap debut fitted with blinkers at Catterick 16 days ago. Left on the same mark, he looks the way to go, with Sanosuke likely to give it another good go. Of the rest, Everyonesacritic is a potential improver at this level.