Racecards
13:50 Musselburgh
E.b.f. 'national Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (qualifier) (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good (Good to Firm in places, Good to Soft places on bends)
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Form 541/0PP
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer Sir John Barlow Bt
- Jockey R McGrath
towards rear and keen early, soon tracked leader, hit 6th, lost place 8th, soon beaten
- Form 24
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer Micky Hammond
- Jockey F Keniry
tracked leaders, reminders approaching 4 out, ridden next, no impression
Logans Run (IRE)
192- Form 21-12
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey D F O'Regan
tracked leader, ridden and every chance 2 out, driven and all out flat to dead heat post, awarded race
- Form 7341
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer J Wade
- Jockey B S Hughes
led, hit 4 out, headed next and soon ridden, gradually weakened
- Form 224-884
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer P Monteith
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
towards rear, smooth headway from 6th to lead 3 out, soon ridden, hung left after 2 out, all out flat, disqualified and placed 2nd
Vulcan Pilot
35- Form 9
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey J P O'farrell
always towards rear
More Equity
66- Form 9/576-65
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer Mrs A F Tullie
- Jockey D C Costello
tracked leaders, lost place and towards rear 5th, effort after 4 out, no impression
Silver Destiny
460- Form 0-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey E Whillans
held up, some headway from 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Poseidon won his bumper impressively last time but this looks best left to Middleton Dene and Logans Run with Middleton Dene getting the vote. Logans Run is a potentially high class recruit but he lacks hurdling experience and that could prove crucial despite him being in receipt of 10lbs. He was bought for 220,000 gns in December having won two bumpers in Ireland and has presumably pleased in his homework as he's doubly engaged at Cheltenham. Middleton Dene is the one to beat having already won four times over hurdles. He, too, has a choice of engagements at the Cheltenham Festival and his form just looks better and better as those behind him last time included Battlecry, Hills Of Aran and Officier De Reserve. The concession of weight won't be easy but Middleton Dene sets the standard.
Formwatch
Fair Kald (FR) 200-1 (10-12) Mid-division, lost place 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Blue Bajan (11-5) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Jan, 18 ran.
La Pantera Rosa (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon one pace, 4th of 15, 17l behind Desert Vision (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m nhf (5) sft in Jan.
Logans Run (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, progress 4f out, challenged 2f out, led approaching straight, headed 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Life For Rent (12-0) at Galway 2m nhf gd in Aug.
Poseidon (GER) 16-1 (11-1) Led, headed after 5f, led again over 4f out, clear over 3f out, driven out over 1f out, won at Musselburgh 2m nhf (5) gs in Jan beating New Dancer (11-6) by 14l, 15 ran.
Raysrock (IRE) 9-4 (11-1) Led, headed over 5f out, soon ridden and weakened, 4th of 6, 12l behind Brenin Cwmtudu (10-11) at Ludlow 2m nhf (5) gf in Nov.
Vulcan Pilot 14-1 (11-5) Held up, headway and close up over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 15, 38l behind Desert Vision (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m nhf (5) sft in Jan.
More Equity 10-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 14, 23l behind Mensio (10-3) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Silver Destiny 33-1 (10-4) Always towards rear, 11th of 14, 16l behind Middleton Dene (10-11) at Newcastle 2m mdn nhf (6) gd in Nov '06.
Middleton Dene (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Held up, headway 6th, challenged next, led before last, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (3) gs in Oct beating Ashwell (11-6) by 2l, 7 ran.