January 03 / 14.27 Musselburgh

14.27

Soft

Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3696.7
  • 1m 7f 124y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

OUR TIP

Form: 42

Last run: 35 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Useful Flat racer who shaped quite well when fourth on hurdling debut at Sedgefield (2m1f, good to soft) in October and was not discredited when remote second to useful rival over C&D in November; sports first-time cheekpieces today and should have some improvement to come in handicap hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(8)

20th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 219y

Class 3

15:42 Redcar

Sea Legend

8st 4lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Two wins at Newcastle (1m, AW) this year, including on his latest start last month; 2lb out of the handicap today and he's 0-13 on turf, but has been placed a few times on grass and is not discounted.

6/1

1st

5

(9)

27th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 5

16:25 Newcastle (AW)

Sea Legend

9st 5lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Just 2-33 but both wins have come here, the latest over C&D last month; found to be lame when down the field two days later and 7f looked too sharp when third here three weeks ago; he's one to consider now back up in trip.

9/2

3rd

7

(6)

6th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

18:00 Newcastle (AW)

Sea Legend

9st 1lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Too strong for his rivals in a Class 6 over a mile here last month; reportedly finished lame when disappointing (13-8f) behind Golden Strike here four weeks ago; revised 3lb higher mark has now kicked in.

6/1

Form: 11-855 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Dual C&D winner in early part of last year (good to soft/soft); yet to hit peak form since returning to this code in the autumn (three runs) but is on a good mark now and ought to find this race much more suitable than the heavy-ground Class 3 event he contested a fortnight ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

18:20 Hexham

Bashful

11st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Iain Jardine

Showed benefit of latest wind op when winning twice at around 2m in February (good to soft/soft); slightly disappointing on latest outing in April, though, and needs to be back in peak form to have a chance off current mark.

8/1

6th

4

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

17:05 Perth

Bashful

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Iain Jardine

in touch with leaders

5/1

6th

4

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

17:05 Perth

Bashful

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Iain Jardine

A dual 2m winner and progressive over hurdles this season but he failed to translate that form back onto the Flat at Doncaster last month; he's the sort to bounce back here though.

5/1

Form: 723121 CD

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Struck form in the autumn, winning at Perth (2m, good) and over C&D (good to soft); drops from 0-110 grade today and could quite plausibly have more improvement to come; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:37 Kelso

Heart Above

12st 0lb

J: Oakley Brown

T: Dianne Sayer

Won twice here in 2025 (2m/2m5f; good/good to soft) but hasn't run up to form on his last three starts, last time over 2m6f; others stronger.

10/1

7th

7

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Heart Above

11st 6lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Dianne Sayer

Dual course winner (2m2f/2m5f) in the autumn; not in same form lately and untested over this far but back on a good mark and can't be ruled out.

10/1

9th

8

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 2

15:22 Musselburgh

Heart Above

11st 1lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Dianne Sayer

Runner-up in this last year and he won two in a row at Kelso (2m2f/2m5f, good/good to soft) in the autumn; patchy form since but when pulled up at Kelso last time he was contesting the very competitive Morebattle Hurdle; drying ground will aid his cause and it will be no surprise if he runs well.

16/1

Form: 13 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Fair Flat racer who won against own age-group on stable/hurdle debut at Catterick (1m7f, good) in November and probably bettered that performance when third over same C&D last month; interesting to see how he fares against older rivals on this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

30th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

14:07 Sedgefield

Game Management

11st 7lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Won on hurdling debut at Catterick (1m7f, good) last November but this year's Flat form has been disappointing and he was pulled up (albeit on soft ground) when making handicap hurdle debut in selling grade in July.

20/1

4

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

13:42 Cartmel

Game Management

11st 10lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Scored on hurdling debut at Catterick (1m7f, good) in November and was very respectable third over same C&D the following month; still unexposed in this sphere but this year's Flat form has been substandard.

14/1

Abandoned

Form: 7PF-45

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Yet to be placed after six hurdling starts but his C&D (good to soft) fifth behind Heat Above in November was quite encouraging and he may still have a bigger performance in him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

22nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

17:05 Newcastle

Skiddaw

11st 0lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Only his second completion in a handicap when beaten 8l into fifth at Musselburgh (good to soft); that was three months ago and he'll need a bit more here you would think.

10/1

Form: 6-8666

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Keen-going front-runner; close second to Bashful over C&D (soft) on handicap debut last February but faded into sixth on first three starts for Chris Grant and is now 0-9 over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

9th Sep 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

14:58 Newton Abbot

La Quarite

11st 12lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

Won by 36l over C&D in July but that race fell apart and he hasn't threatened since, beaten about 14l returned to fences the last twice; could be on a tough mark (that last win was off 12lb lower) but this is weak.

11/8

4th

2

25th Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 5

17:18 Cartmel

La Quarite

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Off the mark at the fourth attempt over fences when strolling home by a wide margin at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) but that race took little winning and he was then beaten 8l into third off the same mark back over hurdles at Uttoxeter; seemed to struggle with the 14lb rise when only fifth on his return to fences here on Saturday (2m5f).

4/1

Form: 6P-55

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Showed nothing more than minor promise when a big-priced outsider for three maiden/novice hurdles (1m7f-2m) last year and needs to improve to pose a threat on this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

9th May 2026

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

18:47 Hexham

Breadalbane Lass

10st 11lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: R Mike Smith

Off the mark over hurdles at 12th attempt, with clearcut success at Perth (2m, good) last month; 8lb rise demands more from her here but something may have clicked.

4/1

1st

14

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Breadalbane Lass

10st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: R Mike Smith

Remains a maiden after 12 starts but she ran well when fourth at Carlisle (2m1f, good to soft) last month and could get closer to the target today if staying straight (hung badly left on the run-in last time).

10/1

4th

11

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

14:45 Carlisle

Breadalbane Lass

10st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: R Mike Smith

Finished second over C&D 13 months ago when in first-time cheekpieces but precious little to crow about since then; opposable.

25/1

Form: 85UP86

Last run: 36 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
0-19 over hurdles; ran about as well as could have been expected when sixth from out of the weights over C&D (good to soft; race won by Heart Above) in November and is effectively 10lb lower today but remains a difficult horse to enthuse over.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

25th May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

14:48 Kelso

Dont Look Back

10st 7lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: William Young Jnr

Won a Flat race in 2023 but is 0-21 over hurdles; tailed off on last two starts, admittedly in a maiden last time after four months off but he does not look a solid option; tongue tied first time.

33/1

8

25th May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

14:48 Kelso

Dont Look Back

10st 7lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: William Young Jnr

Won a Flat race in 2023 but is 0-21 over hurdles; tailed off on last two starts, admittedly in a maiden last time after four months off but he does not look a solid option; tongue tied first time.

33/1

4

15th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

14:18 Perth

Dont Look Back

11st 4lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: William Young Jnr

Won on the Flat in 2023 but is 0-20 over hurdles, including several chances off lowly handicap marks; difficult to enthuse over.

50/1

Non-runners

Inoue, Milajess, Trailblazer

Verdict

Heart Above looked quite progressive in the autumn and has scope for further progress this year but SEA LEGEND began his hurdling career with two fairly encouraging runs and, in view of his Flat ability, he could be dangerous in this grade of handicap. Dual C&D winner Bashful is back on a good mark now and can also feature.[Chris Wilson]

Selections

Telegraph:

Heart Above

Daily Mirror:

Game Management

SPOTLIGHT:

Sea Legend

RP RATINGS:

Bashful

Daily Record:

Game Management

The Guardian:

Heart Above

Daily Mail:

Heart Above

D Express:

Heart Above

The Sun:

Heart Above

The Star:

Heart Above

The Times:

Sea Legend

POSTDATA:

Bashful