13:05 Musselburgh

Monday 1 January 2018

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

toteexacta Hair Of The Dog Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 5m 59.78s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Ahead of The Curve^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 137| D

7/1

Achieved two wins in four starts after joining this yard in the summer, latest over 2m4f (soft) at Perth in august off a mark of 120. Stays this far and ran fair race last month at Doncaster off this rating so must be considered.

Form: 1212P3

Mirsaale³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 137

14/1

A fair dual purpose handicapper who last tasted success over hurdles at Kelso in September (2m, good). Out of his depth in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle last time, now tackles this sort of trip for the first time.

Form: 4-13145

Stamp Your Feet^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 132

4/1

Winner last month at Hereford (2m3½f, soft) in higher grade, getting job done despite a mistake at the last. Just 4lb higher now if handling this more searching test of stamina.

Form: 15-42P1

Fly Vinnie²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 127| CD

11/1

Now 10lb higher than when easily winning over C&D in November, however then threw in the towel from three out off this mark at Carlisle last month. Capable of being involved if bouncing back and has three wins at the track to his name.

Form: 10/0-P19

Tantamount^t²⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 127| D

33/1

Career-best to win at Ayr (2m4½f, good to soft) in conditionals event in April on most recent start. 8lb higher for this return to action, market may reveal more.

Form: 1B3231-

Cresswell Legend^t⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 127| D

9/4

Bumper winner, started hurdles career with back-to-back successes at Ludlow (2m/2m5f, good), up in trip for handicap debut but likely more to come.

Form: 1/31-711

Rainy City^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 123

33/1

Frustrating when with Paul Nicholls, all three hurdles wins coming in six-week spell in 2016. Hasn't shaped with great purpose in two starts for this handler and looks best watched for now.

Form: 9-22664

Arthurs Secret^h1²⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 122| C

9/1

Often hits the frame, including three times here last season over a variety of trips, but getting little relief from the assessor as a result. First-time hood added on seasonal bow and not one to rule out at track he relishes.

Form: 322284-

Volcanic^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 120

4/1

Most recent win came at Bangor in December 2015 over this sort of trip off a mark of 122. Generally held form last season without winning, returned from a year off with fair effort at Kempton in November and fairly weighted now if building on that.

Form: 43733-3

Forecasts

Cresswell Legend (9/4), Stamp Your Feet (4/1), Volcanic (4/1), Ahead of The Curve (7/1), Arthurs Secret (9/1), Fly Vinnie (11/1), Mirsaale (14/1), Rainy City (33/1), Tantamount (33/1)

Fly Vinnie scored over C&D in November with any amount in hand. He's rated 10lb higher now and chucked in the towel worryingly fast at Carlisle since, though he could still have a role to play if bouncing back. Stamp Your Feet won in a better contest at Hereford last time and, with just 4lb extra, must be respected despite tackling a longer trip. There was plenty to like about the manner in which CRESSWELL LEGEND scored his Ludlow successes however and he might be up to making a winning debut in handicaps now. Volcanic and Ahead of The Curve are others to note.