15:40 Musselburgh

Friday 26 March 2021

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1016:4517:15

ITM Northern Lights Stayers' Hurdle Series Final (Handicap Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 53.78s

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Selected odds by:

Bailarico^b¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 124| D

12/1

Won 25f Catterick handicap hurdle in December and also landed an AW jumpers bumper last month. Does need to shrug off a below-par run back hurdling at Plumpton last week, though.

Form: 155416

Ratfacemcdougall^b,t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Max Kendrick⁽³⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 122| CD

16/5

Back to winning ways over C&D in November and has landed a pair of 25.5f Hereford handicaps since. 5 lb rise demands another career best but still needs considering.

Form: 2171P1

Jessiemac^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: I A Duncan| OR: 107| D

5/1

Got back on scoreboard at Kelso in October. Creditable second over 21.5f at Ayr latest and step back up in trip ought to be in her favour.

Form: 6-81952

Off The Beat³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 107

11/2

2m Newcastle novice winner in the mud last winter. Not disgraced in a couple of course handicaps this winter (including this trip) and in the mix if latest Kelso run is forgiven.

Form: 14-P455

Pammi^p¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: B S Hughes| T: J S Goldie| OR: 105| C

11/1

Successful at Perth in August but mixed record since, albeit heavy ground likely didn't suit at Ayr latest. Creditable third over 2¾m here prior to that. Both wins under Brian Hughes.

Form: 5U7530

Arnica²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Grant Cockburn| T: N W Alexander| OR: 102

15/2

Still a maiden but showed improved form when runner-up twice around the turn of the year (C&D second occasion). Latest Ayr run was disappointing, though.

Form: 4-P722P

Buckled^t⁹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Danny McMenamin| T: A M Thomson| OR: 100| CD

18/1

C&D winner who returned to form in tongue strap when second of 12 to Eagle Ridge in handicap chase over 3m here in December. Capable of getting involved back hurdling.

Form: P-4P5P2

Bullion Boss⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 100| CD

4/1

Off the mark in C&D handicap on New Year's Day. Good second over 2½m here next time and not seen to best effect (caught too far back) when fifth over 2¾m latest. Respected.

Form: 0-72125

Handy Hollow^b1²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 100

18/1

Did run poorly back over hurdles at Catterick last time but this multiple hurdle winner is well handicapped if first-time blinkers spark him back to life.

Form: 23597P

Oliver's Island^b,t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: Sean Conway| OR: 85| D

50/1

Landed back-to-back wins at Wetherby/Catterick around the turn of the year but handicapper firmly in charge since. 13 lb wrong at the weights so it's easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 431199

Little Saint^p,t⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁷⁾| T: Sean Conway| OR: 85

50/1

Below par of late and record now hurdle record now 0-20. 13 lb out of handicap. Big outsider.

Form: 344748

Forecasts

Ratfacemcdougall (16/5), Bullion Boss (4/1), Jessiemac (5/1), Off The Beat (11/2), Arnica (15/2), Pammi (11/1), Bailarico (12/1), Handy Hollow (18/1), Buckled (18/1), Oliver's Island (50/1), Little Saint (50/1)

BULLION BOSS wasn't seen to best effect here last time and might be worth another chance to show he remains a handicapper heading in the right direction. Jessiemac and Ratfacemcdougall are others who should be in the shake-up, while the booking of Brian Hughes suggests Pammi may be primed for a good run.