Racecards
16:50 Musselburgh
Totesport 0800 221 221 Handicap (Class 4)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 5f
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Form 42601-9
- Age 7
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey Adrian Nicholls
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced
- Form 654203-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey S De Sousa
chased leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on, headed towards finish
- Form 308400-
- Age 7
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer T D Barron
- Jockey Neil Brown
in touch, ridden halfway, switched left over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
- Form 215313-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey G Bartley
steadied start, held up in rear, ridden over 1f out, soon headway, switched right inside final furlong, ran on to lead towards the finish
- Form 31/1098-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer Mrs L Stubbs
- Jockey D Holland
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
- Form 647041-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey D Tudhope
chased leaders, one pace from over 1f out
- Form 291837-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey Adele Rothery
towards rear, never dangerous
- Form 767046-
- Age 6
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer R A Fahey
- Jockey Jamie Moriarty
soon behind and outpaced, never dangerous
- Form 569200-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 77
chased leaders, ridden halfway, stayed on inside final furlong
- Form 301205-
- Age 11
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer Miss L A Perratt
- Jockey R Ffrench
chased leaders, ridden halfway, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 835456-
- Age 7
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 70
towards rear, ridden halfway, one pace from over 1f out
- Form 733144-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey P Mulrennan
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Handsome Cross is taken to be the bullet to hit the mark from the David Nicholls scattergun, while stablemates Circuit Dancer and Oranmore Castle are other to keep tabs on as the season progresses. Geojimali and Blazing Heights represent the Jim Goldie yard and also merit consideration. The former being the more solid of the two on this occasion. However, he has never won over the minimum distance and needs to be at his very best. Oranmore Castle has claims on the pick of his form and will be interesting when a tong strap is reapplied. The gelding may also need to drop a touch in the weights before he can be strongly recommended. Circuit Dancer was slowly into his stride on his recent All Weather return but can be expected to have benefited from the run. However, joint top weight Handsome Cross makes more appeal on these terms and, as David Nicholls has started to get into his stride earlier than usual, a bold attempt is expected from this son of Cape Cross.
Formwatch
Circuit Dancer (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Started slowly, always rear and outpaced over 2f out, 9th of 10, 8l behind Lucayos (8-12) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
Handsome Cross (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Led early, in touch, not clear run 2f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 2l behind Circuit Dancer (8-12) at Chester 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Sept.
High Reach 33-1 (9-4) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened 2f out, 10th of 11, 5l behind Grand Show (9-1) at Lingfield 6f hcap (4) pol in Oct.
Geojimali 11-2jt-fav (8-12) Slowly into stride, behind, ridden over 2f out, headway on outer over 1f out, stayed on well, 3rd of 18, 2l behind Kay Two (8-12) at Pontefract 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Oct.
Rare Breed 11-1 (9-6) Chased leader, lost place over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 10, 5l behind Tender Process (8-3) at Thirsk 5f 3yo hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Blazing Heights 5-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, led well over 1f out, soon ridden, just held on, won at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Nov beating Westport (8-12) by a shd, 13 ran.
Oranmore Castle (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) With leaders, challenged 2f out, one pace final furlong, 7th of 18, 3 1/2l behind Kay Two (8-12) at Pontefract 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Oct.
Misphire 7-1 (9-2) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 5th of 13, 8l behind Yorkshire Blue (9-2) at Ayr 6f hcp 0-80 (4) hvy in Oct.
Bo McGinty (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) In touch, one pace final furlong, 6th of 18, 3l behind Kay Two (8-12) at Pontefract 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Oct.
Spiritual Peace (IRE) 40-1 (9-2) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 13, 21l behind Yorkshire Blue (9-2) at Ayr 6f hcp 0-80 (4) hvy in Oct.
Ptarmigan Ridge 8-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, one pace, 5th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Blazing Heights (9-0) at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Nov.
Kings College Boy 14-1 (9-1) Mid-division, bumped over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 6th of 20, 2 1/2l behind Kay Two (9-4) at York 5f hcap (5) sft in Oct.
Bond Boy 4-1fav (9-4) Held up, ridden halfway, no impression from over 1f out, 6th of 13, 5l behind Blazing Heights (9-0) at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Nov.
Soto 7-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 15, 1 1/2l behind La Matanza (8-12) at Hamilton 6f 3yo hcp (5) gs in Sept.