Monday, 14 November 2016

Extra meeting at Musselburgh 'n stuff!



WETHERBY – Saturday November 12th

THE DUTCHMAN made a pleasing chasing debut in winning the novice chase. In a race run at a decent pace he made some good leaps, fiddled a fence or two and found a leg when needed, finding a bit more under pressure from the last. Another one to add to a decent roll call of chasers in Sandy Thomson’s yard.

RUNSWICK DAYS struggled upped in class having been moved up 14lbs for his Kelso win, quite a fair amount for a 7 length win with a well exposed opponent 13 lengths back in third on that occasion. However, he can still get into Class 5 and can be noted when dropped back to the lowest grade.

CHELTENHAM – Sunday November 13th

MIRSAALE ran a decent second behind exciting prospect Moon Racer at Cheltenham, staying on grittily once passed to hold a group of decent novices. There should be a Graded company win to be had from Keith Dalgleish’s novice. Don’t be surprised if this talented trainer starts making his mark in top level contests on a regular basis.

MUSSELBURGH – Monday November 14th

George Bewley has fashioned some improvement out of a number of performers in recent times and MITCD won the opening 2 mile handicap hurdle in good style. It does depend how the handicapper see this (see comments above) but there should be another win to be had from this mare. What ever happened during a year off the track seems to have worked with mare.


Taking time out to watch the novices’ chase at PLUMPTON it was disappointing to see Wishing And Hoping come down when seemingly half-lengthened by an extravagant jump from main opponent Baron Alco who went on to beat the other two by a couple of fences. Both had jumped well together until Wishing And Hoping went and are decent chasing prospects. Gary Moore has churned out a succession of decent performers in recent times and must be excited about BARON ALCO.

Thankyou Very Much won a moderate 2m 1f novices’ handicap chase jumping significantly better than the previous winner Halcyon Days who was comfortably held from two out. The other four were comfortably seen off and there’s nothing to recommend going forward on the basis the winner will presumably be shunted up a fair bit.
Exposed Mondlicht won the 2m 6f novices’ hurdle comfortably but is an exposed animal beating a winner but ordinary sort in Bassarabad. Pointing winner Ryalex didn’t jump at all well and was beaten heading for home, while Killone probably has ability but is too keen at present and jumping left something to be desired.

Sandy Thomson’s stable is in fine form and BLUE KASKADE stayed on strongly down the straight to win a competitive Class 3 staying handicap chase. He made it four wins from the first four contests on the card for Brian Hughes. Formidable Opponent lost nothing in defeat, sticking on to hold on to second and has done Willie Young Junior really proud a fine run this autumn. Mister Don stuck to his task but could never get a blow in at the winner.

The fillies’ juvenile hurdle was contender for worst race of the season and the runners went a dawdle for the first mile. Becky The Thatcher, who tended to balloon her hurdles, accelerated from two out to win from Royal Pearl, but the latter hasn’t shown much on two runs and the form means very little against anything of ability.

Quick Decisson can be considered job done for your correspondent, see recent Kelso notes, as he obliged dropped in class at surprisingly decent odds of 15/2. He just saw off Amuse Me who is exposed and John Williams gave way approaching the last and may need to dominate.

The closing contest was contested by a bunch of largely exposed performers. Brian Hughes was in superb form and drove out Smart Ruler to beat the consistent Stoneham who has been finding one or two too good over hurdles but could find a soft contest round here this winter.

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