Racecards
14:10 Musselburgh
Gifford Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class E)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good to Firm
- Form 3F2
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
held up in rear, pushed along 4 out, headway under pressure 2 out, stayed on to chase winner falt
Touch Closer
12- Form 60P-051
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer G A Swinbank
- Jockey Jim Crowley
midi-division, headway and in touch 6th, pushed along 4 out, ridden and weakened before next
- Form 300-243
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer P Monteith
- Jockey K Renwick
held up in rear, brought down 6th
Now Then Sid
32- Form 6-20134
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer Mrs S Watt
- Jockey Miss T Jackson
tracked leaders, blundered 2nd, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before next
- Form 6F-10
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer B Rothwell
- Jockey D N Russell
in touch to halfway, soon behind
- Form 03-356
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer L Lungo
- Jockey R Garritty
in touch, hampered 6th, pushed along halfway, headway 3 out, effort next, no extra flat
- Form 010/P65
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer D Eddy
- Jockey D Elsworth
led, headed 4 out, ridden next, kept on one pace
Tentsmuir
37- Form 04-02FP
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer D Whillans
- Jockey P Robson
towards rear, never dangerous
- Form 00-P0P
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer R Bastiman
- Jockey H Bastiman
held up towards rear, headway 6th and in touch, ridden 4 out, weakening when fell 2 out
- Form 005015
- Age 5
- Weight 10-8
mid-division, headway to track leaders 6th, effort 3 out, one pace flat
- Form 540
- Age 5
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey G Lee
held up in touch, headway to lead 4 out, ridden next, stayed on strongly
- Form 0-00416
- Age 5
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer F Murtagh
- Jockey C McCormack
mid-division, badly hampered 6th, soon pulled up
Safe Shot
53- Form 000-053
- Age 5
- Weight 10-1
- Trainer Mrs J McGregor
- Jockey W Dowling
mid-division, pushed along halfway, weakening when hit 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
- Form 000-0P0
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer J Billinge
- Jockey M H Naughton
tracked leader, fell 6th
In depth
Verdict
The step up in trip is expected to suit Wet Lips and Richard Guest's gelding is given the nod over Touch Closer, Maunsel Road and Northern Minster, who are all worth monitoring in the betting for signs of support. However, Wet Lips, another cheaply purchased Australian-bred, has plenty of scope for improvement and has not been over faced with his task this afternoon. Touch Closer appears to be the biggest danger to the selection, but he does nothing quickly and has a little to prove off a 7lb higher mark. Impinda also makes some appeal for each way players and could go close if he handles the step up in trip. In contrast, Wet Lips has shaped as if he will be better suited to this distance and therefore is given narrow preference today.