November 30 / 14.10 Musselburgh

14.10

Good To Soft

Athelstaneford – Birthplace Of The Saltire Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 1m 7f 124y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
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Athelstaneford – Birthplace Of The Saltire Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain and snow

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.50
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 312-24 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Consistent; won over C&D (good to soft) in March and ran pretty well when fourth over C&D (good to soft) three weeks ago; might not be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

17:05 Perth

Cuban Cigar

10st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Stuck in a bit of a rut right now and he's at his best with some give underfoot; others preferred from 2lb out of the weights.

12/1

5th

2

13th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

16:53 Perth

Cuban Cigar

11st 3lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Lucinda Russell

Regressive 7yo who never really got competitive when sixth over C&D (good) last month; far too well handicapped to rule out but needs to stage a revival.

5/1

10

8th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

14:47 Perth

Cuban Cigar

11st 2lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Lucinda Russell

Not really firing on all cylinders since the winter but has slipped to a very tempting mark and, with blinkers refitted, was not beaten far when fifth in recent C&D handicap fought out by Just Dottie and Mack The Man.

12/1

14/1

  • Place: £3.80

Form: 4275-7 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 12st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Unable to threaten in his two handicap hurdles but he may have needed his reappearance run over C&D three weeks ago and he was runner-up over C&D in a Listed juvenile hurdle in February; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

9th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 4

14:15 Musselburgh

The Churchill Lad

12st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

sweating, took keen hold, led, headed but prominent before 5th, mistake and lost position 8th, rallying when mistake 4 out, weakened before 3 out

4/1

1

9th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 4

14:15 Musselburgh

The Churchill Lad

12st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Front-runner who won on chase debut at Hexham (1m7f, good) in October and has run well in second the next twice (2m/1m7f, good to soft/good); he's fine at this trip (and on a variety of ground) and was effective here over hurdles; can make another bold bid.

4/1

2nd

2

8th Nov 2024

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 4

14:45 Hexham

The Churchill Lad

11st 13lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Winning hurdler who has taken well to fences, beating Caithness by a head over C&D on debut last month before fair second off this 4lb higher mark at Carlisle (2m, good to soft); should go well again.

11/4

OUR TIP

15/8

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 32-531 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 12st 1lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Ex-French 5yo who was a good third at Ayr (2m, good to soft) on November 4 on second start for this yard before easily winning in a small field at Fakenham (2m, good to soft) last Tuesday; a 7lb penalty may not stop her if she repeats that latest form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

24th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

17:22 Kelso

Ip Up

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

On a long losing sequence but she arrives in good nick, ridden aggressively when fifth in 2m Warwick handicap in March; she can make her presence felt after a break.

11/2

5th

1

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:58 Warwick

Ip Up

12st 2lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Her losing sequence goes back 15 races to January 2024 but she's been running consistently well this season; versatile ground-wise and can be thereabouts once more.

5/2

2nd

4

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:52 Ludlow

Ip Up

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

3-18 over hurdles; continues to run consistently well and has reached the frame on all three starts this season, but she probably needs to find that little bit more to add to her score.

5/1

Form: 01234- D

Last run: 319 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Some good runs over hurdles last season (latest run in this sphere was in January) and he's improved on the Flat since, winning at Ayr last month; has potential off current hurdle mark.
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: 340-55

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Didn't run badly in fifth at Ayr (2m, good to soft) last time when back from a break, and that form has worked out well; another 3lb lower today but he has a patchy profile and others are more compelling.
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

Form: 491176 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Two wins at Kelso (2m5f/2m2f, good) in September and he may return to form when back on good ground; however, better could still have been expected at Kelso (2m, good to soft) and Ayr (2m, good to soft) the last twice.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

25th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

15:20 Kelso

Darkest Day

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: William Young Jnr

Hasn't the best of win records (4-43 over hurdles), last win coming over 2m2f here in September 2023; good fourth over 2m5f here last month, but tailed off last time; 10lb out of the handicap.

33/1

12th

16

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 218y

Class 5

15:42 Carlisle

Darkest Day

10st 2lb

J: William Maggs

T: William Young Jnr

Returned to form with 2l fourth of 11 behind Looking Splendid at Kelso (2m5f, good) 11 days ago; however, it's over two years since this 10yo last won and he's even further out of the handicap this afternoon.

20/1

10th

11

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

17:30 Kelso

Darkest Day

10st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: William Young Jnr

Won twice here (including over C&D) in 2023 but this year's pointing form is uninspiring and he has struggled back over fences and hurdles in last three starts; mark is tumbling but he has plenty to prove.

40/1

Form: 7-8568 CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Beaten 14 times since C&D win in February 2022 and well beaten over hurdles the last twice; however, he's dropped down the weights and his trainer's runners here are always worth a second look; watch the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

(6)

1st Feb 2025

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 5

16:17 Newcastle (AW)

Socialist Agenda

10st 2lb

J: Miss Ellie Mayo

T: L J Morgan

Completed an AW double last spring but hasn't been in the same form in three runs back from a break this winter; back on a winning mark but need to see more.

16/1

9

(6)

1st Feb 2025

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 5

16:17 Newcastle (AW)

Socialist Agenda

10st 2lb

J: Miss Ellie Mayo

T: L J Morgan

Completed an AW double last spring but hasn't been in the same form in three runs back from a break this winter; back on a winning mark but need to see more.

16/1

8th

6

(8)

10th Jan 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

15:35 Newcastle (AW)

Socialist Agenda

9st 3lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: L J Morgan

Completed an AW double last spring, adding to his bumper/hurdles wins; disappointing in the latest of his two runs this winter and needs to rebound.

10/1

Form: 463-1 D

Last run: 196 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Despite racing freely he made all with 3l to spare in a maiden at Perth (2m, good) in May last time out; this lightly raced 5yo is in good hands to continue to progress and could have a big say on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

14th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Perth

Bix Beiderbecke

11st 8lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

in touch with leaders, headway to lead 3rd, headed when mistake 5th, soon lost position, dropped to rear 6th, lost touch 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out

10/1

Form: 34-242 CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Consistent type who won over C&D (good to soft) in February and was a good second over C&D (good to soft) three weeks ago; solid claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

24th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

17:22 Kelso

Scots Poet

10st 7lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Ewan Whillans

Gained a first win for two years at Sedgefield (2m1f) in April and backed it up with a good second of nine in 2m Hexham handicap 15 days ago when set a lot to do; this veteran is not taken lightly eased 1lb.

7/2

2nd

5

9th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

18:15 Hexham

Scots Poet

11st 5lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Ewan Whillans

Mainly in good form this year, gaining a well-deserved win at Sedgefield last time (2m1f, good; blinkers on for fourth time); up 4lb; could go well again.

3/1

1st

6

10th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

16:45 Sedgefield

Scots Poet

11st 0lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Ewan Whillans

C&D winner (good); third on his last three starts, all at around 2m; chance but will need to raise his game to win this.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £113.10
Straight Forecast £113.08
Tricast £603.87
Trifecta £773.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ip Up

The Times:

Bashful

D Express:

Bix Beiderbecke

RP RATINGS:

Lihyan

TOPSPEED:

Scots Poet

POSTDATA:

Cuban Cigar

Daily Record:

Bix Beiderbecke

Telegraph:

Ip Up

The Guardian:

Ip Up

Daily Mirror:

Ip Up

The Star:

Ip Up

Daily Mail:

Bashful

The Sun:

Bashful