14:38 Musselburgh

Monday 22 December 2025

All12:3813:0813:3814:0814:3815:08

Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle

  • 3YO plus  |   Class 5  |   2m 7f 180y  |   Good to Soft (Soft in places)  |   13 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 14:38  |   Winning time: 6m 4.55s
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Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
Show odds
1
Horse silk
Dee's Getawayt34
Age: 5|  Weight: 12-0| J: Edward Austin(5)| T: G Bewley| OR:  103
20/1
Fair maiden hurdle winner in Ireland and left very low-key debut for this yard well behind when belying odds of 33/1 at Ayr. Not in the same form at Kelso next time but drops in grade here and not discounted if seeing out the markedly longer trip.
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Timeform
2
Horse silk
Asap44
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-10| J: Joe Williamson(3)| T: P A Kirby| OR:  99| D
4/1
Won twice over fences last season. Yet to hit those heights this campaign but showed a bit more when midfield in a 21f Kelso handicap hurdle last month. In calmer waters here and no surprise to see her return to form back up in distance.
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Timeform
3
Horse silk
Lizzie Luna24
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-7| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans| OR:  96| C
7/2
Landed sole success in a mares' maiden at this track in February and produced by far her best effort in handicaps when third on return to this track last month, outpaced 3 out and plugged on. Makes appeal upped to 3m.
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Timeform
4
Horse silk
Cher Tara40
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-6| J: Danny McMenamin| T: D Bourke| OR:  95
13/2
Won 2½m handicap at Downpatrick last season and ran creditably when fifth in a 14-runner handicap on final start for Gordon Elliott last month. Will need to improve for the stable switch/step back up in trip.
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Timeform
5
Horse silk
Luminariest27
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Ewan Whillans| OR:  93| D
40/1
Progressive 4-time winner over hurdles in the spring. Looked to slowly be getting the hang of things over fences prior to a disappointing run at Southwell last month. Below his last winning mark on return to hurdles but could only be confident if market vibes are strong.
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Timeform
6
Horse silk
Beat The Retreatp,t21
Age: 6|  Weight: 10-12| J: Bruce Lynn| T: N W Alexander| OR:  87| C
7/1
Course winner was back on his last successful mark when winning an 8-runner handicap hurdle at Ayr (19.5f, heavy) 21 days ago, keeping on well in a change of headgear (retained). That form has been given a boost but he remains with stamina to prove over this longer trip.
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Timeform
7
Horse silk
Leader Wingv114
Age: 5|  Weight: 10-11| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: G Boanas| OR:  86
7/2
Bumper winner for Tom Weston who placed for the third time in handicap hurdles for current yard when a narrow runner-up over C&D 2 weeks ago. That was a career-best and he should go well again in a change of headgear off 3 lb higher.
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Timeform
8
Horse silk
Bollin Matilda21
Age: 7|  Weight: 10-11| J: Theo Gillard| T: D W Whillans| OR:  86| D
11/1
Improver when landing a pair of 3m handicaps in spring 2024 but has stood little racing since, finishing well held both starts this season. Questions to answer at present.
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Timeform
9
Horse silk
Reflection Of Youp14
Age: 6|  Weight: 10-11| J: Alan Doyle(3)| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR:  86| C| D
14/1
Point/course bumper winner who didn't progress as expected over hurdles but has been placed twice over fences at Perth this season. Pulled up latest chase start here when again not impressing with her jumping but remains on a workable mark if back on song returned to hurdles.
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Timeform
10
Horse silk
State Of Honor14
Age: 8|  Weight: 10-7| J: K Brogan| T: H McMahon| OR:  82
28/1
22f mares' handicap hurdle winner for Tim Vaughan. Had been in good heart for new yard prior to disappointing at this course (19.8f) last time. Needs to bounce back but can still be competitive off this mark if seeing out the longer trip.
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Timeform
11
Horse silk
Dr Shirocco45
Age: 10|  Weight: 10-3| J: P W Wadge| T: Miss S E Forster| OR:  78| CD
20/1
Course winner is better over fences but found little when seventh in an 11-runner handicap chase at Hexham (24.2f, good to soft) 45 days ago. This likely to be a confidence booster back over hurdles.
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Timeform
12
Horse silk
Dreamings Freet38
Age: 6|  Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Maggs(5)| T: M A Barnes| OR:  76
33/1
Maiden featured much more prominently in the betting when runner-up in a 23f Hexham handicap in May but has found life tougher in maidens subsequently, well beaten returning from 6 months off at Newcastle last time. Should be more at home returning to a handicap/back up in distance.
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Timeform
13
Horse silk
Flying Sandpiper21
Age: 6|  Weight: 10-2| J: Peter Kavanagh| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR:  71
28/1
Has offered very little to date, including when attracting support at Ayr (19.5f) latest, again not fully settling. Now tries 3m but has plenty to prove from out of the handicap.
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Timeform

Forecasts

Lizzie Luna (7/2), Leader Wing (7/2), Asa (4/1), Cher Tara (13/2), Beat The Retreat (7/1), Bollin Matilda (11/1), Reflection Of You (14/1), Dr Shirocco (20/1), Dee's Getaway (20/1), State Of Honor (28/1), Flying Sandpiper (28/1), Dreamings Free (33/1), Luminaries (40/1)

Verdict

Returning to the scene of her sole previous win, LIZZIE LUNA produced her best effort in a handicap when third here last month and looks interesting stepping up to 3m. She's narrowly preferred to Leader Wing who went close over C&D last time and should be in the mix again sporting a change of headgear, while course bumper winner Reflection of You is on a workable mark if back to her best on return to hurdles.

  1. Lizzie Luna7/2
  2. Leader Wing7/2
  3. Reflection Of You14/1

Prize Money

1st: £3,697.002nd: £1,701.003rd: £850.004th: £426.005th: £212.00

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