Racecards
14:20 Musselburgh
Polar Express Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £8,000 added
- Form 2P70-36
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey B S Hughes
led, hit and headed 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
- Form 2228-35
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey Miss R Davidson
tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, no extra from last
- Form F28-704
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer J K Magee
- Jockey Mr S F Magee
towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, soon kept on
- Form 5B21/25-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer D J P Barry
- Jockey Paul Moloney
towards rear, in touch approaching 3 out, soon ridden and weakened from next
- Form 9P-93U1
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey T J Dreaper
mid-division, headway and in touch approaching 3 out, soon ridden and one pace
- Form 695F47-
- Age 10
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer A C Whillans
- Jockey E Whillans
towards rear, lost touch from 6th, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 2-66402
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer Jedd O'Keeffe
- Jockey B P Harding
prominent, every chance 3 out, soon ridden and one pace
Kristiansand
17- Form 132F
- Age 6
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer P Monteith
- Jockey D Da Silva
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
Majorca
37- Form 6486F9
- Age 5
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey G Lee
tracked leaders, led 3 out, soon ridden, kept on
- Form 88-334
- Age 4
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer M Todhunter
- Jockey P Kinsella
mid-division, hit 3rd, ridden and beaten from 3 out
- Form 6566
- Age 3
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Mrs L B Normile
- Jockey N Mulholland
mid-division, ridden after 6th, soon beaten
- Form 482/5-86
- Age 11
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer Karen McLintock
- Jockey P McDonald
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened from 3 out
- Form 343P-06
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 85
towards rear, chased along from 3rd, soon lost touch, pulled up before 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Dual-performer Saif Sareea looks handicapped up to his best, but it is possible that there is still improvement to come in the six-year-old and so he gets the tentative vote ahead of recent winner Transit and Jedd O'Keeffe's Sir Night. The selection ran a gallant third on his recent reappearance when fading after travelling well, and expected to come on for that run he could be capable of going in today. The form of that third has been franked by winner Pilca putting in heroic performances at Cheltenham and Ascot, and Nicky Richards's course and distance winner looks the one to be on today. Sir Knight ran a good race when second over course and distance ten days ago, however that from doesn't appear to be anything extraordinary and so he is passed over. Perhaps of more interest could be Bryan Ellison's Transit who won emphatically at Sedgefield eight days ago, and will love any easing in the ground. He is interesting turned out fairly quickly, whilst another of note could include Kristiansand although he would have to step up significantly on his performances in selling hurdles. Adopted Hero could just be using this as a confidence booster for a chasing campaign, although he would be a danger if back on song. For the winner though, we return to dual-performer Saif Sareea.
Formwatch
Adopted Hero (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Led and soon clear, headed 7th, soon weakened, 6th of 7, well behind All Star (11-5) at Ascot 2m 1f beg chs (2) gs in Nov.
Saif Sareea 9-4 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon one pace, 5th of 11, 13l behind Pilca (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
The Joker (IRE) 40-1 (10-10) Held up, smooth headway to chase leaders 2 out, ridden and no extra flat, 4th of 10, 9l behind Hush Tiger (9-10) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Transit 16-1 (10-8) Held up, headway 3 out, led last, ridden and stayed on flat, won at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy beating Bongo Fury (11-7) by 1l, 8 ran.
Brave Vision 33-1 (10-1) Held up, headway 5th, no impression on leaders when edged left approaching last, 7th of 18, 11l behind Glimmer of Light (9-7) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Apr.
Sir Night (IRE) 66-1 (10-13) Led, ridden and headed 3 out and kept on and every chance last, no extra flat, 2nd of 17, 2 1/2l behind Bogus Dreams (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Majorca 20-1 (10-6) Behind, some headway 2 out, never dangerous, 9th of 12, 12l behind Sea The Light (11-8) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Rightful Ruler 11-2 (10-1) Towards rear, pushed along 4 out, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 12, 8l behind Front Rank (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Oct.