MUSSELBURGH – Wednesday January 1st
Going – Soft (Good to Soft in places)
The year opener on the Scottish circuit was well attended as
ever, the New Year Sprint supporting the equine events.
The New Year Sprint, taking place shortly before the start of
the main race of the day was won in impressive style by DYLAN ALI (11.59
seconds off a 7.5m handicap mark). Kevin Eddie, winner of the previous day’s
90m open handicap held on for second place in 11.81 seconds off 9 metres.
The main bookie betting on the event was not giving too much away, with favourite
Ali at 1/2 and three at 2/1. That being said there was a huge queue to collect
and I doubt more than 2 or 3 were backed seriously.
We were in the restaurant for the afternoon. Worth noting
that if sizeable portions are what your after then late dining is best. We ate
early and later servings of the main course were twice as big as ours! However,
the Morello Cherry Trifle dessert was an absolute delight and I could have gone
a second helping!
Due to gastronomic commitments, paddock viewing was
sporadic.
12:25 2m toteplacepot First Foot Juvenile Hurdle (Class 3)
Once again the Musselburgh juvenile event was light on
numbers, though this might prove better class than the two previous events here
this season.
RUTHERGLEN came clear impressively once asked and looks a
potential Triumph hurdle runner on this form. I would imagine that John Quinn
will consider running him in the newly Listed Scottish Triumph here in early
February.
THORPE filled second place and appeared to run at least up
to the form of his second to Dispour here, the winner on this occasion would
likely have the measure of the latter.
One with scope to progress over hurdles is BUSHEL. The john
Ferguson trained animal was largely easy to back and looked as if the race
would bring him on significantly. He was outpaced approaching two out and not
punished unnecessarily once third place was assured.
LOVE MARMALADE and MAGIC SKYLINE were both keen early on and
outpaced from the home turn. Both can find their level against level taxing
opposition.
1:00 2m 4f totequadpot Handicap Hurdle (106-118)
Despite some rather wild weather at time Stuart Crawford
made it across from Northern Ireland to make a significant mark at this
meeting. CALL BOX, a largely consistent
sort that won at Perth in September, led at the ninth and was kicked clear
entering the straight. His pursuers didn’t get to him after that. He’s a largely exposed sort who was presented
in peak condition and got the run of the race.
LOS NADIS looked much happier back hurdling. He led to the
ninth and was then outpaced, but stuck to his task up the straight to take
second. If sticking to hurdles he’s on a
workable mark of 116.
DIVERS isn’t as good as he once was and never got near to
the leader. He did stay on through beaten opponents to take third place.
UNEX CANALETTO had every chance and made no impression from
three out. A stiffer test will probably suit as he won over further at Kelso.
1:35 2m 4f totepool.com Scottish Premier Handicap Chase
(124-139)
A race run for a decent pot of £25,000 and a competitive
event ensued.
MR MOONSHINE stepped up on a decent third in the Becher
Chase, leading at the twelfth fence here and staying on up the straight. He’s
been tried at a whole variety of distances in recent times and did quite
creditably to win at this sharp two and a half miles.
VIVA COLONIA was arguably the class act in this company, a
creditable third in the Old Road Chase and has won twice over this course and
distance. His problem now being that this may well be the only C/D race that he
is eligible for over fences.
BAR DE LIGNE chased the winner up the straight but never
quite got on terms. This was a decent effort in the company and his jumping held
up better than it has done.
UPSILON BLEU is a keen sort, normally accompanied by two
paddock handlers. He raced prominently but was held from two out.
SLEEP IN FIRST was progressive for the first part of 2013
but maybe found this trip beyond him in the class, making no impression on the
leaders from three out. He might be worth a pot at the two mile Scottish Champion
Chase here in February.
FULL JACK jumped slowly here and has struggled since
arriving from France.
QUITO DU TRESOR is useful when things go for him, but found
the company a bit hot and made no impression.
KEALIGOLANE made the pace but didn’t get such an easy lead as
last time. He faded quickly after being
headed at the twelfth and was pulled up before two out. Small fields suit him
as he can dictate much easier.
2:10 2m totepool Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle (109-140)
The £40,000 prize attracted a competitive field, a few of
them often seen around here in similar contests.
STRONGPOINT , rarely campaigned at the minimum trip in recent
times, was well suited by the strong pace on here. Racing close up or disputing for most of the
way, he led two out and stayed on strongly driven out on the flat. This made
his record three out of three at Musselburgh and it would be a major surprise
if his trainer resists a tilt at the Scottish Champion Hurdle on Cheltenham
Trials day.
IFANDBUTWHYNOT ran a creditable second following a Newbury
win last time. He could come here in February, but another possibility must be
the ‘whatever they call the Schweppes these days’ hurdle at Newbury. A fizzy
sort in the preliminaries, he chased the leader from two out but could make no
impression. He was by far the best finisher of those coming form off the pace.
LOCAL HERO has been eased somewhat in the ratings and ran
creditably in third place, keeping on from three out.
RUNSWICK ROYAL chased the leaders from two out but made no
impression. More lightly raced than many here, he might just be capable of
taking a similar contest at a stiffer track.
An eye-catching fast finisher was STREETS OF NEW YORK, a
very creditable fifth from out of the handicap. Taken off his feet for much of
the way, he picked up well from three out. A drop in class would be advantageous,
though he has the build of a chaser . His new yard seem to be getting a tune
out of him.
TITUS BOLT helped set the pace and stuck to his task
admirably to finish in sixth. This was only his sixth contest. He does hint at
some temperament but has plenty of raw ability and should be placed to win a
lesser event.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
arrived a day late! He was too keen early on and had shot his bolt by
two out.
2:45 3m Happy New Year from totepool Handicap Chase
(100-112)
SWING HARD was reported unsuited by the soft going last
time. On the face of it the going was similar here, but I suspect that ‘Newcastle
soft’ is good deal more of a test than ‘Musselburgh soft’.
He led early on the final circuit and stayed on well to hold
a persistent challenger.
PRESENTED is upwardly mobile and followed a Class 5
Newcastle victory with a decent effort upped in class. A creditable effort
given that he looks likely to prove better at stiffer tracks.
THE MAGIC BISHOP was well placed four out but couldn’t match
the first two from two out.
RIGUEZ DANCER made no impact from three out, five time
course winner EVERAARD was back in fifth and has not quite been on his game
this term.
LORD OF DRUMS led to the eleventh but he raced keenly and
weakened four out. His racing style suggests a shorter trip suits.
DAASIJ made slow jumps in rear and has not yet mastered the
art of steeplechasing. He would probably be suited by a stiffer track anyway.
3:20 3m 110yds Collect totepool Winnings at Betfred Shops
Handicap Hurdle (109-128)
A fascinating closing contest where the lack of numbers was
balanced by the entry of an in form quintet.
ANY GIVEN MOMENT made
his course form figures 12131 with an excellent effort. Ryan Mania record a
third win of the afternoon, having ridden Mr Moonshine and Swing Hard, and
showed his tactical nous when kicking clear before three out. That’s a sound
tactic round Mussleburgh and his mount stayed no admirably wel, giving the
steadily progressive stable of Sandy Thomson a decent prize.
TANTAMOUNT chipped away as best he could at the leader from
two out and lost nothing in defeat. He
continues on an upward curve.
CAPELLANUS got outpaced four out but rallied well enough to
take third place on the run-in.
ARCTIC COURT set the pace but was held from three out.
ALDERLEY ROVER won a handicap hurdle at Bangor recently, but
is an exposed sort who found more progressive opponents too hot to handle.
