15:25 Musselburgh

Thursday 1 January 2026

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5115:25

Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:28 | Winning time: 3m 44.37s

Mr Mcloughlan⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gingell| T: Jack Jones| OR: 123| D

5/1

Won back-to-back novice/maiden hurdles earlier this season before finding Grade 2 company too hot at Cheltenham. Back on track to resume winning ways on handicap debut at Huntingdon (soft) last time, getting first run on rivals. Going the right way but this looks tougher.

Form: 2-31181

Afadil^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss Olive Nicholls⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 119| CD

7/4

Has a good record here, finishing runner up over C&D last season prior to placing in the Imperial Cup. Closer to form on second start this season when third in a better race at Sandown (soft), his sluggishness at the start slightly concerning. Makes appeal if on a going day down in grade.

Form: 230P-73

City Of Diamonds³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 117| CD

7/2

Off the mark 2m Stratford maiden hurdle prior to chasing home a next-time-out winner under a penalty at Perth in September. Improved again to make a winning handicap debut over C&D last time, driven out by 4¾ lengths from Star of Guiting. Up 7 lb but still relatively early days and could show more.

Form: 7-35121

Bashful^t,p²⁰⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Alan Doyle⁽³⁾| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 115| CD

18/1

3-time C&D winner thrived early last season for Iain Jardine, landing a double at Musselburgh/Kelso prior to running at least as well in bid for hat-trick when beaten by a well handicapped one at Ayr in March. In the mix if back to those heights on reappearance/stable debut.

Form: 51126-7

Cueros³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Reed| T: Harry Derham| OR: 115

10/1

Fairly useful on Flat in Jersey and scored in impressive style on his yard/hurdling bow at Newcastle (16.9f, good). Runner-up on both starts on softer ground since (travelled best Plumpton latest) and can resume progress now handicapping on a sounder surface.

Form: 122

Chase A Fortune^p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 113| D

14/1

Built on promise of previous runs to end a losing run when successful in first-time cheekpieces (retained) at Wetherby (16f, soft) 26 days ago, keeping on gamely to defy 5 rivals. The second and third have both won subsequently but he'll need to take a step forward upped in grade.

Form: 24-5F21

Admiralty House^h²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Callum Bewley| T: A M Thomson| OR: 113| D

14/1

Fairly useful juvenile hurdler matched his best when runner-up at Fakenham (2m) on final start for Alan King in March. Typically taken a strong hold in both starts for new yard, latterly in first-time hood (retained) when fourth at Kelso. Handicapper has given him a chance if he can settle better.

Form: U302-04

Star Of Guiting³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 109

15/2

Strong-travelling juvenile hurdle winner ran well to finish third (ahead of a subsequent winner) at Ludlow on final start for the Twiston-Davies yard and produced best effort on what was effectively his stable debut when chasing home City of Diamonds last time. Interesting off just 1 lb higher.

Form: 314-3U2

Ravenscraig Castle^t,p³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: I Jardine| OR: 109| D

22/1

Deservedly ended a lengthy losing run at Perth (16.2f) in July and wasn't disgraced over the same C&D when fourth in a better race in August. Respectable comeback behind City of Diamonds over C&D and should be closer to form with tongue strap/cheekpieces back on.

Form: 55-9145

Non-Runners

Evaluation⁷⁸

Weight: 11-8| Age: 8

T: L Russell & M Scudamore J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Afadil (7/4), City Of Diamonds (7/2), Mr Mcloughlan (5/1), Star Of Guiting (15/2), Evaluation (8/1), Cueros (10/1), Chase A Fortune (14/1), Admiralty House (14/1), Bashful (18/1), Ravenscraig Castle (22/1)

In an open-looking race, it could pay to take a chance on CUEROS who impressed when successful on hurdling debut and remains open to improvement back on better ground for his handicap debut. Afadil recovered from a sluggish start to finish third in a better race at Sandown last time and has a good record here, while Admiralty House has been given a chance by the handicapper if he can race more efficiently.