Racecards
15:40 Musselburgh
ITM Northern Lights Stayers' Hurdle Series Final (Handicap Hurdle) (GBB Race) (Class 2)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 180y
- Going: Good to Soft (Good in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £18,768
- 2nd: £5,544
- 3rd: £2,772
- 4th: £1,386
- Form 155416
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey G Sheehan
midfield, pushed after 4 out, ridden after 3 out, kept on well, never nearer
- Form 2171P1
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer D Killahena & G McPherson
- Jockey Max Kendrick
led before 2nd, pushed and quickened before 3 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on strongly, comfortably
- Form 6-81952
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer I A Duncan
- Jockey Alexander Thorne
tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened from 2 out
Off The Beat
35- Form 14-P455
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer A M Thomson
- Jockey Ryan Mania
led 1st, headed before 2nd and tracked leader, pushed before 3 out, ridden after 3 out, kept on without troubling winner
- Form 5U7530
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey B S Hughes
midfield, pushed before 3 out, ridden after 3 out and stayed on, kept on one pace
Arnica
25- Form 4-P722P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer N W Alexander
- Jockey Grant Cockburn
close-up, pushed after 4 out and outpaced, ridden in 4th after 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, stayed on well
- Form P-4P5P2
- Age 11
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer A M Thomson
- Jockey Danny McMenamin
mid-division, ridden along after 4 out, soon weakened
- Form 0-72125
- Age 5
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey R D Day
in rear, pushed along after 4 out, never picked up straight
- Form 23597P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
towards rear, pushed along before 10th, not a factor
- Form 431199
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer Sean Conway
- Jockey Aaron Anderson
held up, not fluent 5th, ridden after 6th, not a factor
- Form 344748
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer Sean Conway
- Jockey Lewis Stones
towards rear, ridden going out on second circuit, pulled up after 4 out
In depth
Verdict
RATFACEMCDOUGALL is 20lb higher than when scoring over course and distance in November but he’s won twice since at Hereford and is a game front-runner who could have enough to keep these at bay up the home straight. Jessiemac was second to an improver at Ayr a couple of weeks ago and should make her presence felt while Bullion Boss beat Arnica and Off The Beat here in January and usually runs well at the track, though was below par last time over 2m6f when behind Pammi. Buckled is still capable but hasn’t won over hurdles since 2017.
Formwatch
Bailarico (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Close up, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 8, 33l behind Trincomalee (11-7) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Ratfacemcdougall (IRE) 18-1 (11-9) Led, headed narrowly before 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last, steadied into last, headed flat, stayed on strongly to lead close home, won at Hereford 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Alkopop (11-0) by 1l, 10 ran.
Jessiemac (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) In rear, headway 6th, lost place and ridden next, effort before 4 out, 3rd 3 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Style It Out (11-12) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Off The Beat 5-1 (11-11) Mid-division, some headway when not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 27 3/4l behind Ryedale Racer (11-9) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Pammi 16-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division, struggling after 4 out, last of 10, dist behind Style It Out (11-12) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Arnica 9-2 (10-13) Prominent, dropped to midfield 5th, not fluent 4 out and ridden towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Ayr 3m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Buckled 15-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, mistake 2nd, headway 13th, stayed on flat, went 2nd last stride, no impression on winner, 2nd of 12, 7 1/2l behind Eagle Ridge (10-8) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Bullion Boss (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Held up in rear, stayed on after 3 out but never involved, 5th of 7, 15 1/4l behind Get The Appeal (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Handy Hollow (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, lost place when not fluent 9th, soon weakened, pulled up before last, at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Oliver's Island (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, closed 3rd, lost place next, effort 7th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 12, dist behind The Ogle Gogle Man (12-3) at Ayr 3m hcp (5) hvy in Mar.
Little Saint (IRE) 7-2 (10-11) Contested lead, led 5th, joined 8th and soon headed, pushed and weakened before 4 out, ridden after 4 out, tailed off jumping 2 out, last of 8, dist behind Galuppi (11-8) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (5) sft in Mar.