February 19 / 14.20 Musselburgh

14.20

Good To Soft

George Crawford Legacy Trust Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 7f 170y
  • Class 5
  • 4 runners
RTV
View Course
George Crawford Legacy Trust Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: 85362F BF

Last run: 14 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Close second of four at Kelso (2m7f, heavy) last month on his second chase start and he's also effective on good to soft ground; made mistakes before falling mid-race over this C&D a fortnight ago but this lightly raced 6yo is a contender if minimising the blunders.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

25th Oct 2025

Good

3m 2f 39y

Class 2

15:55 Kelso

Duke Of Deception

10st 6lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Absent since comfortable success in small field at Haydock (3m1f, good) six months ago; faces a stiffer task from 5lb out of weights in this better race and seems unlikely to follow up.

8/1

1st

1

19th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 4

15:50 Haydock

Duke Of Deception

12st 0lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Won smoothly on soft ground in this race last year (7lb higher today); handicapper has had the call since but seconds at Warwick (3m5f, good) and Haydock (3m4f, good) on last two outings showed that he should have a big say in this very small field.

13/8

1st

1

19th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 4

15:50 Haydock

Duke Of Deception

12st 0lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

pressed leader, led narrowly 4 out, went clear after 3 out, comfortably

13/8

Form: 804252

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
0-20 under rules but has run well to finish second over 2m4f here on two of his last three starts (soft/good to soft) and has shaped each time as though he may benefit from this step back up in trip; could be thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:20 Hexham

Dr Shirocco

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Sandy Forster

Veteran without a win since November 2024 but showed there was still fire in the tank when third over C&D 17 days ago; younger rivals may have his measure here, however.

12/1

3rd

10

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Dr Shirocco

10st 5lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Sandy Forster

Has won four chases, including over C&D in May 2024 (good); best recent form has been at Musselburgh and he was below par over C&D last time (good).

14/1

6th

7

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:30 Hexham

Dr Shirocco

10st 10lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Sandy Forster

11yo whose losing run goes back 11 races to November 2024 but he ran pretty well off his lower hurdle mark at Musselburgh last month, following a break, and all four of his wins have come over fences (two of them here); not discounted back chasing.

10/1

Form: P42232 BF

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
0-11 under rules and needs to prove he can get the job done, but he's been running well over fences this winter and may well have won at Market Rasen (3m, good to soft) 12 days ago but for a mistake two out; cheekpieces (worn once over hurdles when well beaten) return, replacing blinkers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

27th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 5

20:38 Cartmel

Beat The Edge

10st 2lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Extremely hard to win with and modest runs outweigh the good ones these days.

20/1

5th

10

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 5

15:55 Hexham

Beat The Edge

10st 2lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Good third at Market Rasen two runs back (2m1f, good to soft); hard to win with, but an each-way chance; new combination of headgear tried.

10/1

6th

8

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

15:58 Market Rasen

Beat The Edge

10st 2lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

On a good mark now (even from 3lb out of the weights) and arrested his decline with fairly good third of seven here (2m1f, good to soft; first-time hood) three weeks ago; however, this quirky customer doesn't always find much when the chips are down and has a modest strike-rate.

7/1

Form: -P232P

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Pulled up here (2m4f, soft) on New Year's Day but that run may have come too soon, ten days after his neck defeat at Ayr (2m4f, good to soft) on his second chase start; there's every chance this new trip will be within range and he could bounce back with a big effort; cheekpieces go on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

4th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:48 Perth

Warriors Story

10st 6lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Winless since April 2022, and he beat only one in 3m handicap hurdle here 25 days ago; visor is reached for with lots to find.

16/1

10th

4

9th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:52 Perth

Warriors Story

11st 5lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

prominent, pressed leader before 3rd

8/1

4

21st May 2024

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

18:58 Hexham

Warriors Story

11st 7lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

prominent, not fluent 2nd, lost position 7th, dropped to rear 9th

9/4

Non-runners

Warriors Story

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.00
Straight Forecast £5.51
Trifecta £8.50

Selections

RP Ratings:

Dr Shirocco

POSTDATA:

Duke Of Deception

SPOTLIGHT:

Beat The Edge

D Express:

Duke Of Deception

The Times:

Dr Shirocco

Telegraph:

Dr Shirocco

Daily Mirror:

Dr Shirocco

The Star:

Dr Shirocco

Daily Record:

Dr Shirocco