January 03 / 13.57 Musselburgh

13.57

Soft

Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 3f 171y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

Form: 5-PF7F D

Last run: 20 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Landed a good prize off today's mark at Haydock (2m3f, good to soft) in November 2023 and was not disgraced in this season's edition of that race but fell heavily in two chases either side of that and was safely held when third of four over fences at Ayr yesterday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

16th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

17:05 Bangor-on-Dee

Park Annonciade

11st 11lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Sarah Humphrey

Less contested lead than often the case when making it seventh time lucky over fences at Huntingdon last month (2m, good), and Stratford second off 6lb higher since consolidated that form; up another 1lb here but pace rivalry could prove more the issue.

11/4

2nd

4

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

16:53 Stratford

Park Annonciade

11st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Sarah Humphrey

Started off for Sarah Humphrey with two disappointing hurdle runs in the autumn but has turned things around over fences since, and kept on well to win by 7l at Huntingdon (2m, good) a fortnight ago; recent 6lb rise demands more from him here, though.

9/4

1st

5

4th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

17:25 Huntingdon

Park Annonciade

11st 6lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Sarah Humphrey

All three wins over hurdles when trained in Ireland; running well at present and second of five at Plumpton (2m1f, good to soft) last month; threatening to get his head in front for this yard.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: 275-54

Last run: 6 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Dropped out very tamely stable debut in November but, following a wind op, fared much better when fourth at Catterick (2m3f, good; first-time tongue-tie/refitted hood) on Saturday; no surprise if he takes another step forward here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

19th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

17:10 Sedgefield

Klitschko

11st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Lucinda Hughes

Won this last year when 2lb higher (good); ran well in fifth of 15 at Catterick in January, when not quite seeing out the 2m3f trip, and he unseated mid-race there last time; could have a big part to play.

4/1

5

9th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

16:30 Catterick

Klitschko

11st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Lucinda Hughes

All three wins on good ground but some useful form on soft; first win for this yard at Sedgefield (2m1f; off 2lb higher) last March but he's needed some excuses since; should be suited by the return to a shorter trip but will need to be right on his game to win today.

8/1

5th

2

21st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 4

14:20 Catterick

Klitschko

12st 1lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Lucinda Hughes

Beaten upwards of 12l in four starts since winning in a tongue-tie at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) in March; stays this trip and he's back down to that winning mark, though; hood (reapplied last time) comes off again.

16/1

Form: 1165-6 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Dual course winner (1m7f, soft) as a juvenile hurdler last season and also successful on the Flat here in the summer; not at best when back over hurdles last month but stays well on the Flat and could have untapped potential over this new trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(7)

1st Oct 2025

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 6

16:38 Musselburgh

Rory The Cat

9st 3lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Went close off 8lb higher in this race (good) last year but he's generally struggled since (Flat and hurdles) and was a remote fourth of five here last time; that took his losing run to 12 and others are preferred.

15/2

4

(4)

14th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

15:25 Musselburgh

Rory The Cat

8st 11lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won over 1m6f here last August off 3lb higher but below form since; showed a bit more when third of five over C&D (good) 19 days ago, however, and a further 2lb drop in the weights gives him a fighting chance.

5/2

2

(3)

26th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

16:50 Musselburgh

Rory The Cat

9st 9lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Now 1lb lower than his win here over 1m6f (good) last August but he's been well beaten in three starts this summer, on this track and at Ayr; bit to prove.

10/1

Form: -80014 D

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Just held on to double hurdling tally at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) in October and probably didn't have the race run to suit when close fourth in tactical event at Ayr (2m4f, good) the following month; current mark probably demands a career-best performance, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

7th Apr 2025

Good

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:15 Kelso

Kilbrainy

11st 6lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

towards rear throughout

6/1

8th

4

7th Apr 2025

Good

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:15 Kelso

Kilbrainy

11st 6lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

towards rear throughout

6/1

Form: -33434 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Largely consistent 7yo who appeared to find the heavy ground slightly too taxing when fourth at Ffos Las (2m4f) a fortnight ago but still ran well there; remains on a workable mark and ought to be right in the thick of things here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

27th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

20:08 Cartmel

Hostile Hotelier

10st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Four-time hurdle winner who is 0-6 over fences (despite a lower mark) and was beaten a good way at Hexham (3m) on his return to this discipline after a break; the other two appeal more.

100/30

4th

4

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 4

16:30 Hexham

Hostile Hotelier

11st 13lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Four-time hurdle winner, including over 2m on heavy ground here; decent second over fences at Sedgefield in October (3m2f, good) but last two runs have been over hurdles (took a heavy fall when running well last time); a possible.

13/2

2

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 5y

Class 4

14:37 Warwick

Hostile Hotelier

11st 11lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Had a break since finishing lame when second on his return to hurdles at Newcastle in October (2m7f, good; handles softer); looks high in the weights now but he's likeably consistent.

7/1

Form: -13232 D

Last run: 51 days

W: 10st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Placed four consecutive times since breakthrough win at Market Rasen (2m4f, good) in May; nudged back up to career-high mark after his Ayr second (2m3f, good) in November and may not be ideally suited by the slower ground here but still enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

12th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:16 Perth

Summergrounds

11st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Hasn't had that much racing for a 10yo; enjoys this ground and has a solid record over C&D, so one to consider as he ran quite well last time at Bangor in a higher grade (finished last but weakened only late on).

5/1

3rd

4

26th Jun 2026

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 3

19:43 Bangor-on-Dee

Summergrounds

11st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Late-maturing 10yo who won twice last spring and maintained progress with some good runs in defeat in second half of last year; may not have been suited by soft ground when pulled up on latest outing; not out of this.

6/1

Non-runners

Bringbackmemories

Verdict

Hostile Hotelier is very likely to give another good account but this can go to Flat stayer RORY THE CAT (nap), who won twice as a juvenile hurdler here last season and ought to be suited by this new trip. Lucinda Russell’s 5yo was below form when back over hurdles at Wetherby last month but he wasn’t the only one blown away by the all-the-way winner there and that defeat should not be viewed harshly. Kilbrainy is next on the list.[Chris Wilson]

Selections

Telegraph:

Summergrounds

TOPSPEED:

Hostile Hotelier

RP RATINGS:

Klitschko

SPOTLIGHT:

Rory The Cat

D Express:

Bringbackmemories

The Times:

Klitschko

POSTDATA:

Hostile Hotelier

The Star:

Hostile Hotelier

The Guardian:

Summergrounds

Daily Mail:

Summergrounds

Daily Mirror:

Summergrounds

The Sun:

Summergrounds

Daily Record:

Summergrounds