13:50 Musselburgh

Friday 20 January 2017

All12:5013:2013:5014:2515:0015:3016:05

Cosmic Case Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 3m 46.37s

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Selected odds by:

Appy Days²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams

5/6

Ran well in a Listed Novice Hurdle at Taunton last month on hurdles debut. This is far less competitive and after some good performances in bumpers would seem the perfect opportunity to get off the mark.

Form: 2013

Caerleon Kate⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: C A McBratney| OR: 83

33/1

Showed little ability on the flat and has had even less success from four starts over jumps. No obvious form claims at all making the switch from maiden to novice company on first jumps start in Britain.

Form: 00D447-

Insight⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Dean Pratt⁽⁵⁾| T: L Egerton

100/1

Soundly beaten on all three starts over hurdles so far, after a forgettable flat career after which she remains a 13 race maiden. Would be a surprise if she got off the mark here.

Form: /4756P-

Maple Stirrup³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J Kington⁽³⁾| T: P Holmes

66/1

Half-brother to two time hurdle winner Sourabad who switched to jumps after an entirely unremarkable flat career. Maybe worth a market check but seems unlikely to get of the mark here.

Form: 8-

Overawed⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George

8/1

0/4 under rules so far including when beaten 52 lengths in a bumper here a year ago. A big step forward is needed, but not quite as unlikely a winner as some others here.

Form: 50-3051

Paper Roses²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans

17/2

Showed promise when running well in three bumpers and was staying on in third when unseating at the final flight on hurdles debut at Kelso in December. This is tougher and could turn out to be shorter than her optimum, but definite claims once again.

Form: 3U7382-

Princess Mononoke²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: James Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr

16/1

Point winner who ran well in a bumper at Newcastle 12 days ago when beaten by a potentially smart rival and shaped as though she'd improve when switched to hurdles. Will want to step up in trip in time but solid claims for this nonetheless.

Form: 139513-

Sophie Olivia⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Todhunter

25/1

Not disgraced in some decent bumpers so far this season while never getting close enough to actually challenge to win one. Interesting now switched to hurdles but perhaps better just watched on this debut over obstacles.

Form:

Verona Opera¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 107

3/1

Failed to get off the mark over hurdles so far after winning a Catterick bumper two years ago. Has come close on more than one occasions in various maiden, novice and handicap events, but those have tended to have been less competitive races than this. In with a chance.

Form: 425132-

My Brown Eyed Girl^h³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: James Corbett⁽⁷⁾| T: S Corbett

100/1

Beaten out of sight on both starts over hurdles so far, by 30 lengths and 66 lengths respectively. That followed a fruitless flat career

Form: 76085U

Forecasts

Appy Days (5/6), Verona Opera (3/1), Overawed (8/1), Paper Roses (17/2), Princess Mononoke (16/1), Sophie Olivia (25/1), Caerleon Kate (33/1), Maple Stirrup (66/1), Insight (100/1), My Brown Eyed Girl (100/1)

APPY DAYS was thrown in at the deep end in a competitive Mares Novices Hurdle at Taunton last month and now reverts back to a much lower grade after showing good form in bumpers. She wasn't disgraced by any means in the South West, and would seem the one to beat here. Paper Roses and Princess Mononoke are two in the field who will surely want a step up in trip with time, but with some of today's runners looking to have little chance, they are taken to run on for the places. 1. Appy Days 2. Paper Roses 3. Princess Mononoke