January 01 / 14.20 Musselburgh

14.20

Soft

tote.co.uk Auld Reekie Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £20812
  • 2m 4f 68y
  • Class 2
  • 9 runners
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tote.co.uk Auld Reekie Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 4/2-24

Last run: 38 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Useful for Paul Nicholls; consistent efforts for current yard, finishing second twice over 2m here (good to soft) then fourth over 2m5f at Ascot (good) where he shaped as if this drop back to a sharp 2m4f will suit; clear possibilities off 3lb below last winning mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

22nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

17:35 Newbury

Fidelio Vallis

12st 0lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Won at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft) on the first day of 2024, registering a career best; absent 334 days afterwards and he's weakened out of it on all four starts this season but latest was a step back in the right direction and he's dropped in class; tried cheekpieces penultimate start (they now return) and he's unproven beyond 2m4f (tried 3m2f last time).

8/1

6th

5

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 1y

Class 2

15:15 Doncaster

Fidelio Vallis

11st 5lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Harry Derham

Career best to win under Alice Stevens at Musselburgh (2m4f) on the first day of 2024 but absent 334 days afterwards and he's weakened right out of it on all three starts this season; tried cheekpieces last time (they are now removed) and he's unproven beyond 2m4f (has tried 2m5f and 2m6f).

33/1

7th

6

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 2

14:50 Musselburgh

Fidelio Vallis

11st 4lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Harry Derham

prominent

9/1

7/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 261-14

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Raced mainly at shorter trips under rules; all wins on good/good to soft; largely progressive; respectable fourth at Ascot (2m1f) most recently but is held by Frere D'Armes on that form and this return to 2m4f presents a question mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

22nd Feb 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Kempton

Corrigeen Rock

11st 6lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

disputed lead early, not fluent and prominent 2nd

20/1

4th

4

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 2

14:50 Musselburgh

Corrigeen Rock

11st 6lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

prominent

12/1

4th

4

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 2

14:50 Musselburgh

Corrigeen Rock

11st 6lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

prominent

12/1

5/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 27-2U1 C

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 3lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Proved suited by the return to this venue (2m7f, soft) last time, scoring by 7l and taking Musselburgh form figures to 1321; creditable third in this contest 12 months ago and looks likely to go well again, for all that he's now on a career-high mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 4f 19y

Class 4

15:38 Newcastle

Half Shot

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Iain Jardine

Has won four chases, latest at Kelso in April (2m7f, good); mixed form since, including fair third back at Kelso last time (3m2f, good); a possible, though perhaps better at further these days.

11/4

2

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 4f 19y

Class 4

15:38 Newcastle

Half Shot

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Iain Jardine

Has won four chases, latest at Kelso in April (2m7f, good); mixed form since, including fair third back at Kelso last time (3m2f, good); a possible, though perhaps better at further these days.

11/4

4th

1

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

17:00 Kelso

Half Shot

12st 1lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Iain Jardine

Captured this prize a year ago and in good form until ridden aggressively when tenth in 2m5f Cartmel handicap chase 23 days ago; it would come as no surprise to see him play a major role here.

9/1

Form: 124441 C

Last run: 54 days

W: 10st 9lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Comfortably beat Fidelio Vallis here (2m, good to soft) two months ago, taking Musselburgh form figures to 1221 and overall chase record to 7-33; went very close off 4lb higher in this contest in 2020; holds solid claims despite his advancing years (has just turned 11).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 4f 19y

Class 4

15:38 Newcastle

Cracking Destiny

10st 11lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

Veteran; has won five chases from 2m-2m4f on good/good to soft; good third at Hexham in August but two heavy defeats since; on last winning mark; could bounce back.

9/2

5

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 4f 19y

Class 4

15:38 Newcastle

Cracking Destiny

10st 11lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

Veteran; has won five chases from 2m-2m4f on good/good to soft; good third at Hexham in August but two heavy defeats since; on last winning mark; could bounce back.

9/2

6

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 210y

Class 4

16:15 Carlisle

Cracking Destiny

11st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

12yo; won at Hexham (2m4f, good) in June and third there in August (2m4f, good); mistakes may have been costly when tailed off at Kelso (2m5f, good) latest and he's not written off, but others are more compelling.

20/1

Form: 6-5493

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 5lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Has done most of his winning at about 2m but shaped encouragingly over 2m4f at Kempton (good to soft; third start for new stable) five weeks ago; remains well treated on best form, albeit he's an 11yo whose losing spell goes back to 2021.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

17:05 Kempton

Before Midnight

11st 12lb

J: Mr Ben Sutton

T: S Loxton

prominent, chased clear leader after 4th

10/1

3rd

3

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

17:05 Kempton

Before Midnight

11st 12lb

J: Mr Ben Sutton

T: S Loxton

Will be suited by today's good ground and was a very useful handicap chaser in his prime but was out of form for Fergal O'Brien when last seen last summer and it's hard to gauge how much ability he retains as a 12yo.

10/1

5th

3

6th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 3

15:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Before Midnight

11st 8lb

J: Mr Ben Sutton

T: Fergal O’Brien

Ran well in defeat in Ludlow hunter chase (2m4f, soft) in April but was well beaten when back in a handicap two months ago and is patently not the force of old; pulled up at 2023 Cheltenham Festival on only previous start in cheekpieces.

8/1

Form: 124U-P D

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Won at Carlisle (2m) on debut over fences and ran well at Wetherby (2m3f) next time; disappointing in three subsequent starts, latest on reappearance two months ago; however, holds a fighting chance off current mark provided he's back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:10 Market Rasen

Bass Rock

11st 9lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

Better handicapped now and signs of a revival when third in a Ludlow handicap chase in December, only to then pull-up at Kempton; difficult to know what to expect on this return to hurdles with cheekpieces added.

14/1

2nd

4

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:10 Market Rasen

Bass Rock

11st 9lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

Better handicapped now and signs of a revival when third in a Ludlow handicap chase in December, only to then pull-up at Kempton; difficult to know what to expect on this return to hurdles with cheekpieces added.

14/1

17

27th Dec 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:08 Kempton

Bass Rock

11st 1lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Georgina Nicholls

Had a long spell of mediocre results but he's much better handicapped now and his recent run behind Dreaming Blue at Ludlow (3m1f, good to soft) showed he was turning a corner for his new yard; needs more but he could be just at the start of a comeback; not dismissed.

12/1

Form: 127-52

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Campaigned only at shorter distances under rules but finished strongly at Ascot (2m1f, good; close second) most recently and, allied to pedigree, that makes him look ready for a crack at this new trip; second-season chaser who may not have reached his ceiling yet; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

26th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 4

18:39 Plumpton

Frere DArmes

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Has been well out of form since returning in September from a break and has offered little switched to hunter chases this year; now back in handicap company for his leading stable and down to a potentially workable mark, but recent efforts temper enthusiasm.

2/1

4th

1

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:50 Ludlow

Frere DArmes

12st 6lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Odds-on third in this race last year before comfortably making all in Stratford hunter chase (2m1f, good) in May; hasn't got near the latter form in eight starts since September however and latest pulled up, despite attracting some support, was a third non completion in a row; others look safer.

7/2

1

13th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

15:25 Fakenham

Frere DArmes

12st 6lb

J: Mr Dominic Lewis

T: Dan Skelton

He was in better form when runner-up in this last year having won his previous race; very disappointing when pulled up back here just before Christmas and then unseated at Ludlow when 33-1; hard to trust right now.

11/2

Form: 6F2-8P D

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Heavy ground may excuse his poor efforts this term; creditable second in this race last year (soft; off 5lb lower) before winning a major 3m contest at Doncaster and finishing second in the 4m Scottish National; has the ability to take a serious hand.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: -21125 C

Last run: 54 days

W: 10st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Best to forgive his dip in form here two months ago (bled from one nostril); very consistent otherwise this season and may well bounce back at some stage; however, performed poorly (well-held fifth) in this race last year and now 2lb higher.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

14th Jun 2024

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 4

19:35 Market Rasen

Cedar Hill

12st 0lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

held up in rear

8/1

4th

3

4th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 3

13:50 Musselburgh

Cedar Hill

11st 10lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

Ended last year with below-par C&D run (bled from the nose) and was beaten when falling over 2m4f here on New Year's Day; needs to get back in the groove but has very good chasing strike-rate (7-25) and his current mark is workable.

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £32.50
Straight Forecast £41.27
Tricast £211.85
Trifecta £169.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Frere D'Armes

Daily Mail:

Half Shot

POSTDATA:

Fidelio Vallis

Telegraph:

Cracking Destiny

TOPSPEED:

Bass Rock

RP RATINGS:

Before Midnight

The Times:

Frere D'Armes

The Guardian:

Frere D'Armes

Daily Mirror:

Frere D'Armes

The Sun:

Frere D'Armes

LAMBOURN:

Fidelio Vallis

D Express:

Half Shot

The Star:

Half Shot

Daily Record:

Cracking Destiny