Racecards
15:15 Musselburgh
bet365 Scottish County Hurdle (Listed Handicap) (Class 1)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 1m 7f 124y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £50,000 added
- Winner: £28,475
- 2nd: £10,685
- 3rd: £5,350
- 4th: £2,665
- Form 2122-82
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Bridget Andrews
led, set strong pace, clear after 3rd, headed before 3 out, weakened quickly, pulled up next
- Form 214-190
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, led approaching last, ran on strongly
- Form 6-53584
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer J Ewart
- Jockey Sam Coltherd
prominent, lost place 5th, behind when pulled up 3 out
- Form 2311P3
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer I Jardine
- Jockey S A Shortall
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, driven to challenge 2 out, kept on same pace
- Form 24-1131
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey Megan Carberry
tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, led before next, headed approaching last, kept on
- Form 12-312
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey B S Hughes
mid-division, when fell 4 out
- Form 138-622
- Age 6
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer H Fry
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up in rear, headway 3 out, never on terms
- Form 7/80-241
- Age 8
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey Alexander Thorne
keen in rear, fell 5th
- Form 10/3-822
- Age 8
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Lorcan Murtagh
behind, struggling 5 out, never dangerous
- Form 2-46753
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey Henry Brooke
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, weakened after next
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Optimus Prime shaped well when second at Huntingdon on his first start for the Skelton team but still looks pretty harshly treated by the handicapper and the current form of the normally prolific yard remains a concern. Diego Du Charmil, winner of last season's Fred Winter Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, picked up where he left with a game display first time up this season at Chepstow but has since disappointed in two competitive hurdles, though he's one of the more likely ones if recapturing his best. Dominada continues to go from strength to strength and this progressive front-runner should go very well again under regular partner Megan Carberry while Traditional Dancer ran a cracker here last time behind County Hurdle winner, Superb Story. It's a competitive contest but DRUMCLIFF looks on a tempting mark, Harry Fry is in sparkling form and the race may just be run ideally for the gelding's favoured hold-up tactics.
Formwatch
Optimus Prime (FR) 5-1 (11-11) Led, clear 2nd, hit 5th, reduced lead 2 out, ridden and headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Robinshill (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Diego Du Charmil (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Always towards rear, pushed along and struggling after 3 out, never involved, 12th of 19, 34 1/4l behind Brain Power (11-11) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Aristo Du Plessis (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Led, headed 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 6, 20 1/2l behind Teo Vivo (10-12) at Kelso 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Traditional Dancer (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, in 3rd, every chance 3 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Superb Story (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Dominada (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Made all, clear before 3 out, easily, won at Musselburgh 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jan beating Urban Kode (10-0) by 7l, 12 ran.
London Prize 15-8fav (11-5) Close up, tracked winner 4th, ridden to challenge from 2 out, driven to lead narrowly flat, headed near finish, 2nd of 14, shd behind Bandsman (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) gs in Dec.
Drumcliff (IRE) 9-2jfav (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway on outside chasing leaders when badly hampered and lost all momentum 2 out, rallied approaching last, kept on run-in but unable to recover, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Bigmartre (11-6) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Deepsand (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway before 4 out, led before 3 out, held on towards finish, driven out, won at Haydock 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Vocaliser (10-6) by nk, 13 ran.
Cool Sky 13-2 (10-6) Held up in last pair, steady headway racing awkwardly after 3 out, modest 3rd before 2 out, no impression when left modest 2nd at the last, 2nd of 9, 6l behind River Frost (10-11) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Great Fighter 20-1 (10-7) Towards rear, headway before 3 out, kept on after last, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Project Bluebook (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) gd in Jan.