13:55 Musselburgh

Friday 3 January 2020

All12:2012:5013:2013:5514:2515:0015:35

Betway Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 3m 51.85s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Blooriedotcom²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 100

3/1

Useful on the flat for Peter Chapple-Hyam and starting to get going over hurdles. Latest third at Kelso (2m) offers encouragement and may be more to come. Considered.

Form: 427F53

Old Jewry^t1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Bourke| OR: 97

14/1

Sole standout effort to date came when third over fences at Kelso in September. Soundly beaten in starts before and after that, including when seventh at Newcastle (2m) so mini-revival is needed.

Form: 473047

Bobby Boucher^t³³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 94

66/1

Shocking form in Ireland during the spring/summer of 2017 and offered no resemblance of revival when seventh in Irish point-to-point last February. Readily opposed.

Form: 0860F/7-

Sunhill Lad^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 92

9/1

Looks to be a better performer on the flat than over jumps, offering little in three starts including when sixth at Market Rasen (2m) in August. Plenty more needed in this sphere.

Form: 766

Life Knowledge^b,t1²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: L Bailey| OR: 88

15/2

Previously a useful performer but on the decline in 2019, including when distant sixth when last seen over hurdles in July (2m). Likely that will continue but notable jockey booking.

Form: 6/7232-6

Fourth Of July^t³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: R P McLernon| T: R M Smith| OR: 87

7/1

Good third in C&D novice hurdle last year but not gone on since. Offered some respite when third over C&D last time but even that requires slightly more.

Form: 96-6P03

Wise Coco^p²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 85| D

3/1

Had been in good form during the autumn and duly landed a gamble when winning at Perth (2m) in September. Best forgiven on latest start and looks dangerously poised once again.

Form: 241536

Missesgeejay²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 79

15/2

Limited ability over hurdles and remains a maiden at 10, but put up nice enough performance when fourth at Bangor (2m) last month. Place claims on best form.

Form: 439234

Kisumu^p,t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 70

15/2

Long-standing maiden who produced a good effort when second at Sedgefield in August. Held form well when fourth on next two starts and may pick up place money from out of the handicap again.

Form: 488244

Forecasts

Blooriedotcom (3/1), Wise Coco (3/1), Fourth Of July (7/1), Life Knowledge (15/2), Kisumu (15/2), Missesgeejay (15/2), Sunhill Lad (9/1), Old Jewry (14/1), Bobby Boucher (66/1)

A weak-looking division of this race, preference is for top weight BLOORIEDOTCOM, who has taken a while to come to hand over hurdles but showed his wellbeing with his latest effort at Kelso. On form, he is still on a relatively lenient mark. Wise Coco looks like she will be the main danger and has generally upheld her mark since her win at Perth, while the likes of the wrong at the weights Kisumu and Missesgeejay may sneak into a place from the bottom of the weights but would need significant improvement to win.