Racecards
14:20 Musselburgh
Famous Grouse Handicap Hurdle (Class D)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Firm, Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 25312P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer P Monteith
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
led until ridden and headed after 3 out, gradually weakened
- Form 091557
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 117
tracked leader, ridden and every chance 3 out, gradually weakened from next
- Form 214-13
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer I Semple
- Jockey Jim Crowley
towards rear, smooth headway to track leaders approaching 3 out, ridden next, one pace flat
- Form F21P-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey G Lee
held up, smooth headway to lead approaching 2 out, ridden and kept on until headed, no extra flat
- Form 1U2008
- Age 9
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer Mrs S C Bradburne
- Jockey M Bradburne
mid-division, hit 4 out, soon weakened, ridden approaching next, soon beaten
- Form 405-6U1
- Age 5
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 102
towards rear, headway approaching 3 out to chase leaders, ridden approaching next, kept on well from last to lead flat
- Form 265
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey B P Harding
mid-division, ridden and headway to lead briefly after 3 out, kept on after
- Form 1P6660
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer W Coltherd
- Jockey B S Hughes
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened from last
In depth
Verdict
Saif Sareea was good value for his win over course and distance last month and has to be respected but a 12lb rise since then leaves Richard Fahey's gelding with more to do and a chance is taken with Motive, who is preferred to Millagros. The selection was useful on the flat when with Sir Michael Stoute and, although largely disappointing in his first season over hurdles, there is no doubt that the son of Machiavellian is potentially well treated on his handicap debut off a mark of just 113 for his debut in a handicap. George Stubbs has given little cause for optimism in novice contests but may do better now that he goes handicapping. Top weight Rising Generation will need to put up a career best effort to land this under 11st 12lb, while Gone Too Far is difficult to recommend on recent evidence. Millagros has claims on the pick of his form and comes here fit from the flat but Motive looks to have been allotted a decent mark for his debut in this grade and he gets the vote.
Formwatch
Gone Too Far 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and lost place quickly after 3rd, behind when pulled up at the 4th in race won by Provocative (11-9) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-135 (C) sft in Oct, 10 ran.
Overstrand (IRE) 200-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 40l behind Arcalis (11-7) at Newcastle 2m hdl Grd 1 (A) sft in Nov.
Millagros (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (11-5) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, hung left from next, one pace and no impression, 3rd of 13, 10l behind Travel (11-5) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gd in Jun.
Motive (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Held up behind, ridden and weakening when hit 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Faasel (11-0) at Aintree 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Apr, 12 ran.
Bodfari Signet 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 13, 12l behind Saif Sareea (10-1) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gf in Nov.
Saif Sareea 2-1fav (10-1) Held up in touch, hit 3 out, led next, kept on well, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gf in Nov beating Sovereign State (11-5) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
George Stubbs (USA) 33-1 (10-12) Held up, slightly hampered 2nd, ridden after 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 23, 24l behind Whispered Promises (11-5) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Royal Glen (IRE) 50-1 (10-5) Towards rear, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 10th of 13, 13l behind Saif Sareea (10-1) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gf in Nov.
Rising Generation (FR) 13-2 (11-9) In touch, every chance 3 out, ridden 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 12, 9l behind Flying Enterprise (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gs in Nov.