January 05 / 13.55 Musselburgh

13.55

Soft

tote.co.uk Your First Place For Racing Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 3f 171y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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tote.co.uk Your First Place For Racing Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 421-33 BF

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on handicap hurdle debut here (2m1f, good to soft) last March then went one better at Perth (2m, good to soft); he's been a promising third on both runs this season (2m, soft), most recently staying on at Ayr in a race that has worked out very well, and this new trip could prompt improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

25th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:25 Perth

Duyfken

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: N W Alexander

in touch with leaders

15/2

7th

6

25th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:25 Perth

Duyfken

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: N W Alexander

in touch with leaders

15/2

3/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 0-5551 CD

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Capitalised on a reduced mark to win by just over 5l over C&D (good to soft) last month; he's 8lb higher in a better race today but is unexposed over this trip and under hold-up tactics; on the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

16th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

18:50 Uttoxeter

Lihyan

11st 4lb

J: William Maggs

T: Rebecca Menzies

Two wins last season, the first a four-runner Huntingdon handicap in May (3m1f, good), the second a six-runner handicap at Newbury (3m, good to soft) in March; far from disgraced in a competitive race at Aintree last time and not without a chance despite career-high mark.

13/2

7th

22

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

13:20 Aintree

Lihyan

10st 9lb

J: William Maggs

T: Rebecca Menzies

Ridden last ten starts by William Maggs; seventh hurdle win when seeing off five rivals at Newbury (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago but even a 2lb nudge seems likely to stop him in this much more competitive scenario.

25/1

1st

5

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 3

15:32 Newbury

Lihyan

11st 2lb

J: William Maggs

T: Rebecca Menzies

Ridden last nine starts by William Maggs; rarely seen on soft ground; six-time winner, most recently last May; good placed efforts at about 3m four times in a row in October-December, before he failed to show in a Pertemps qualifier at Musselburgh (10-1) nearly seven weeks ago; best form this term was over C&D, so he's not entirely ruled out.

11/2

13/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 22224-

Last run: 258 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten on handicap debut at Ayr in April when last seen but the good ground may not have been ideal; runner-up in four novice hurdles in a row previously (1m7f-2m4f, good to soft-heavy) and he retains potential for a trainer whose horses tend to go well when fresh; firmly in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

11th Sep 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

17:35 Uttoxeter

Leading Force

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

C&D winner in May on his second start for James Owen and was holding his form until heavy defeats in his final two races; now on a recovery mission.

8/1

3rd

2

29th Aug 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

17:18 Fontwell

Leading Force

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Scored at Uttoxeter (3m, good) in May, his second start for James Owen, and ran big race when clear second to thriving opponent at Cartmel (3m1f, soft) in June; needs to bounce back from last month's duff effort at Market Rasen but still features prominently in calculations.

4/1

7

19th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

17:00 Market Rasen

Leading Force

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: James Owen

Looked a hard ride when second at Bangor (3m, good) but travelled sweeter with the blinkers back on at Cartmel (3m1f, soft) and just missed out; nudged up another 3lb but has to be respected.

8/1

Form: 4-2254

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Didn't look a natural towards the end of last year on first two chase starts; finished second in this last year (soft) and is 2lb lower than when runner-up at Hexham (2m, good) last June on latest hurdle start; could play a leading role in first-time cheekpieces now reverting to this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:37 Kelso

Less Legacy

11st 8lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Susan Corbett

Won four-runner handicap at Hexham last June (2m4f, good to soft; cheekpieces on for first time); disappointing since; needs first-time blinkers to bring about significant improvement.

12/1

10th

3

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:11 Hexham

Less Legacy

11st 12lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Susan Corbett

Captured this prize last year (fourth win at the track) and caught the eye when eighth of 12 in 2m4f handicap at Sedgefield 34 days ago, racing wide and set a lot to do; he's a player off a 2lb lower mark now.

8/1

8th

6

19th Feb 2026

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

15:43 Sedgefield

Less Legacy

11st 11lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Susan Corbett

Four of his five wins have been at Hexham; hasn't been at his best on last three starts; others stronger.

50/1

Form: 4-162O D

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Ran out at fourth flight when back over hurdles at Sedgefield on Boxing Day; comes with a risk attached after that but he's well treated on chase form and won over hurdles early in his career; capable of a bold bid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

19th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

15:15 Wetherby

Heartbreak Kid

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

prominent, went second and pressed leader 6th, outpaced and lost second after 5 out, weakened 4 out

9/2

5th

1

5th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 4

13:55 Musselburgh

Heartbreak Kid

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

prominent on inner

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: -22432 D

Last run: 100 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
His consistent run of form continued when 12l second behind an unexposed winner at Perth (2m4f, soft) in September when last seen; can be thereabouts if returning from a 100-day break at the top of his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

25th Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

14:55 Cartmel

City Derby

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Won four on the bounce here last summer (2m6f-3m1f; soft/good) but has looked a little out of sorts this season, for all that he shaped a bit better last time after further wind surgery.

14/1

5th

11

19th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 3

15:22 Cartmel

City Derby

10st 7lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Four-time course winner (2m6f-3m1f, good-soft); lurks on a good mark but looked out of sorts here on both appearances this season and needs recent wind op to have made a difference; tongue-tie refitted.

16/1

9

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

14:40 Cartmel

City Derby

11st 3lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Four-time course winner (2m6f-3m1f, good-soft), including this race a year ago; needs to rebound from a disappointing run here (3m1f) last month but is back on a workable mark and can't be ruled out.

12/1

Form: 5876-5 D

Last run: 91 days

W: 11st 5lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
10yo who struggled more often than not last season and failed to threaten on his reappearance at Hexham in October; however, he may improve for the run and has dropped to a dangerous mark; not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:32 Perth

Big Bad Bear

11st 6lb

J: Mr William Easterby

T: Sam England

Lightly raced in the last two years and form has deteriorated badly; big revival is required on debut for new yard.

14/1

6

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:32 Perth

Big Bad Bear

11st 6lb

J: Mr William Easterby

T: Sam England

led narrowly, headed 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out

14/1

9

6th Jun 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

15:43 Uttoxeter

Big Bad Bear

11st 6lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Stuart Coltherd

Five-time hurdle winner from 2m-2m4f on good/soft ground for Nicky Richards; has lost his form since a good second in October 2022; makes no particular appeal on second run for new yard (pulled up first time); now tried blinkered

50/1

Form: 32-255

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Close second on his handicap and seasonal debut at Hexham (2m4f, soft) in October; has finished fifth the next twice but over 3m2f/3m and this lightly raced 6yo could benefit from today's drop back in distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

25th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:43 Perth

Monochromix

11st 13lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

If he's to make the breakthrough it will probably be over fences (0-9; three seconds) but he wasn't pulling up any trees when last seen in the spring.

10/1

6th

10

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 6f 121y

Class 3

14:05 Perth

Monochromix

10st 12lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell

in rear

20/1

6th

10

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 6f 121y

Class 3

14:05 Perth

Monochromix

10st 12lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell

in rear

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.80
Straight Forecast £10.35
Tricast £31.15
Trifecta £34.70

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Lihyan

SPOTLIGHT:

Duyfken

TOPSPEED:

Leading Force

Daily Mail:

Les's Legacy

Telegraph:

Heartbreak Kid

The Star:

Big Bad Bear

The Guardian:

Duyfken

POSTDATA:

Lihyan

THE NORTH:

Lihyan

D Express:

Lihyan

Daily Mirror:

Lihyan

The Sun:

Lihyan

Daily Record:

Lihyan

The Times:

Leading Force