14:15 Musselburgh

Tuesday 3 January 2023

All12:1512:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:15

Fitzdares Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 3m 57.6s

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Selected odds by:

El Jefe^h³⁰⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 99

13/2

Winner at Sedgefield last winter and mostly respectble efforts in defeat subsequently. Off for 10 months but he does return with his small stable among the winners and he's nicely handicapped on his best form.

Form: 152567-

Russian Virtue²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 96| D

11/4

First hurdle start for this stable when winning a 2m Newcastle handicap 26 days ago, produced to lead 2 out and quickening clear. Raised 8 lb but there could easily be more to come from this 6-y-o who looked talented on the Flat at the start of his career.

Form: 266P-1

Smart Lass²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 96| CD

13/2

Dual scorer on the level here in 2021 and off the mark over hurdles when taking a C&D handicap in February. Has recorded 2 respectable efforts over C&D since returning to hurdling in recent weeks and he ought to be competitive here.

Form: 7331-54

Flylikeaneagle^b,t⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 91| C

9/1

Just modest form in testing ground over hurdles in Ireland but has won 4 times on the Flat since joining this stable. Could only a manage a well-held fourth back hurdling at Newcstle in November but he went without the blinkers he wore when winning on the Flat and they are back in place now. Player.

Form: 476/0-4

Ultra Violet^p⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 90

33/1

Fairly useful on Flat in France but he's yet to match that form over hurdles and came in last of seven in handicap hurdle at Kelso (2mf) on his return in October. Absent another 10 weeks since.

Form: 3F334-7

Spanish Hustle^t1⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: J S Goldie| OR: 85

16/1

No impact back hurdling on his last 2 starts. Dropped another 5 lb but need to see more before lending support.

Form: P65-5P7

Bulls Aye^v²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: I Jardine| OR: 81| C

33/1

Course Flat winner. The booking of Brian Hughes for this 5-y-o takes the eye but he was well behind Russian Virtue on his handicap hurdle debut and will need to step up considerably on that to play a part. Headgear on for the first time over hurdles.

Form: 5P-49

Killane^p²³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 80| D

10/1

Won 3 low-level handicaps in a productive 2021/22 campaign. Respectable fifth at Hexham when last seen in May and ought to be very competitive if ready to roll after his break.

Form: 15F10-6

Bebside Banter⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C Grant| OR: 77

14/1

Looks limited on early evidence, including comfortably held on Kelso handicap debut in November.

Form: 7P-77

My Macho Man^p,t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: S Mulqueen| T: K Scott| OR: 77| BF

9/1

Yet to taste success following 19 attempts over hurdles but he can be competitive off his reduced mark, performing respectably again when 7½ lengths fifth of 10 to Russian Virtue in 2m Newcastle handicap 26 days ago.

Form: 485345

More To Follow^h²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Ross Chapman| T: D Bourke| OR: 73

16/1

Has yet to achieve much, including in handicaps in recent months. Could only consider if backed.

Form: 877P8

That's Your Lottie^h,t⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: K Scott| OR: 73

17/2

Remains a maiden after 22 runs. 5/1, only ninth of 13 in 3m handicap here 6 weeks ago, racing too keenly to see out the longer trip. Drops significantly in distance now.

Form: 474449

Non-Runners

Scots Poet²⁹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: Ewan Whillans J: Craig Nichol

Forecasts

Russian Virtue (11/4), Scots Poet (11/2), Smart Lass (13/2), El Jefe (13/2), That's Your Lottie (17/2), My Macho Man (9/1), Flylikeaneagle (9/1), Killane (10/1), Bebside Banter (14/1), More To Follow (16/1), Spanish Hustle (16/1), Ultra Violet (33/1), Bulls Aye (33/1)

It all clicked over hurdles for RUSSIAN VIRTUE at Newcastle and it's possible he could have more to come in this sphere for his current yard so he's taken to defy a rise in the weights. Flylikeaneagle ought to be up to doing something off his current hurdle mark based on Flat ability and he might fare better now equipped with the blinkers he's worn to good effect on the level. Smart Lass and the reappearing El Jefe, who is well treated on his best form, are also on the shortlist.