Racecards
16:05 Musselburgh
Donaldson Timber Engineering Handicap (Class 5)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m 6f
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,238
- 2nd: £964
- 3rd: £482
- 4th: £240
- Form 15-9451
- Age 6
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer V P Donoghue
- Jockey Lee Topliss
in touch, ridden to chase leader entering final 2f, led 1f out, ran on
- Form 756111
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey J Fanning
led, ridden 2f out, headed 1f out, stayed on
- Form 604143
- Age 9
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 62
- Trainer M A Barnes
- Jockey Andrew Heffernan
dwelt, took keen hold, close up, tracked leader 6f out, ridden 3f out, kept on one pace
- Form 485210
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer A Kirtley
- Jockey Neil Farley
always in rear
- Form 668721
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 57
- Trainer A G Foster
- Jockey P Mulrennan
raced wide, tracked leaders, switched to inside 6f out, ridden 3f out, went 3rd 2f out, stayed on final furlong
- Form 0/0513-7
- Age 8
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 53
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey F Norton
keen held up, bumped and hampered over 4f out, not trouble leaders
- Form 4-88459
- Age 9
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 45
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey Kelly Harrison
always in rear
- Form 8-54907
- Age 3
- Weight 8-0
- Official Rating 45
- Trainer A G Foster
- Jockey Noel Garbutt
tracked leader until 6f, weakened 3f out
- Form 333410
- Age 4
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 65
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
It's difficult to look beyond TOBERNEA here and Mark Johnston's horse is confidently expected to land the hat-trick. This stoutly-bred colt hasn't suffered defeat since being switched to handicaps and he showed last time that cut in the ground is to his liking so providing that Joe Fanning doesn't try to take on Oddsmaker for the lead he should take some beating despite a penalty. The latter loves it here and can never be ignored but recent evidence suggests he'll struggle to win with Chookie Hamilton rated a bigger threat. His new trainer has done well since taking out a license and this horse technically takes a drop in class following a recent course and distance win but the concession of weight to Tobernea looks a thankless task. Hong Kong Island was impressive last time but it's important to remember that was a seller and this is much tougher, so he too may have to settle for a minor role.
Formwatch
Chookie Hamilton 14-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, stayed on well under pressure, won at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Sep beating Beat The Shower (9-4) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Tobernea (IRE) 13-8fav (9-3) Went right start, with leader, led 10f out, ridden clear 3f out, idled from over 1f, eased inside final furlong, won at Warwick 1m 7f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) hvy beating Sir Pitt (9-7) by 6l, 8 ran.
Oddsmaker (IRE) 9-4fav (9-7) Led, very fast pace, soon 8 lengthes clear, headed over 2f out, weakened quickly, 3rd of 6, 13l behind Hong Kong Island (8-10) at Musselburgh 1m 4f sell stks (6) gd in Sep.
Miss Ferney 7-1 (9-3) In rear, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, eased over 1f out, last of 12, well behind Andorn (9-11) at Redcar 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Sep.
Hong Kong Island (IRE) 11-4 (8-10) Tracked clear leader, took closer order over 5f out, led over 2f out, clear over 1f out, easily, won at Musselburgh 1m 4f sell stks (6) gd in Sep beating Royal Straight (9-7) by 10l, 6 ran.
Toshi (USA) 15-2 (8-13) Slowly into stride, effort on outside over 3f out to over 2f out, soon ridden and beaten, 7th of 8, 17l behind Cat O' Nine Tails (9-6) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Sep.
Kyber 16-1 (7-11) Mid-division, headway on outside 4f out, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 13l behind Ballade De La Mer (8-7) at Ayr 1m 7f hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Aug.
Goodison Park 25-1 (8-3) Slowly in to stride, headway to mid-division 8f out, ridden and weakened 4f out, 7th of 11, 17l behind Sharp Sovereign (9-3) at Hamilton 1m 3f hcp 0-55 (6) gd in Aug.
Mohawk Ridge 16-1 (9-8) Tracked leader and keen, ridden well over 2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 17, 26l behind Pertemps Networks (9-7) at Ayr 1m 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Sep.