December 01 / 14.10 Musselburgh

14.10

Good To Soft

G & H Flooring Contractors Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers’ Hurdle Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £6337.2
  • 2m 7f 180y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
RTV
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G & H Flooring Contractors Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers’ Hurdle Series Qualifier)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: 3/P15- C

Last run: 223 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Hurdle debut; made it 3-3 at Musselburgh (all over fences) when winning the Edinburgh National (3m7f, good to soft) in February; creditable fifth in the Scottish National next time; however, well beaten over fences here yesterday on reappearance and hard to fancy after that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 816F57

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
10yo who has been below par the last twice, but three starts ago he was going well when falling two out at Kelso (3m2f, good) and is not ruled out today in a first-time visor (replacing cheekpieces).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

20th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 4

17:00 Haydock

Didtheyleaveuoutto

11st 11lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Ben Haslam

Continues to drop down the weights and he didn't run badly when fifth of eight at Kelso (2m6f, soft) last month; one to watch in the betting but this 11yo needs to raise his game to return to winning ways.

16/1

5th

2

16th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

13:55 Kelso

Didtheyleaveuoutto

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Won a Cartmel handicap (2m6f, good; wore cheekpieces) off this mark last July; in with a chance when taking a heavy fall two out here (3m2f, good) in September but he's not fired in his last two runs; has something to prove again and he's ideally suited by quicker ground.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 6/4-PP

Last run: 119 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Has tumbled down the weights and it's possible this return to hurdling will be a positive, but he's been pulled up over fences on his two runs this year following an absence and he has plenty to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

1st May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Warwick

Empire De Maulde

11st 12lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: R W Varnham

Victory in a Parham open match last weekend took his score in points to 5-8; diminishing returns in hunter chases, and well held behind Arthur's Sixpence at Newbury in March (3m, good to soft), albeit on going which wouldn't have suited as well as tonight's projected good.

14/1

7th

6

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

17:16 Newbury

Empire De Maulde

11st 12lb

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: R W Varnham

Pulled up in the same point last month in which Arthur's Sixpence suffered the same fate; that muddies the waters but did well in points and hunter chases last year, including a near-miss in this race.

14/1

Form: 5-34P9 CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Faced very tough task on chase debut in October (pulled up) following a break and better could have been expected back over hurdles over C&D last time; however, he enjoyed a consistent spell in the spring and perhaps he's working his way back to form; player if he's back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

14:40 Cartmel

Curley Finger

11st 11lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Failed to win during light campaign last season and dropped out very quickly after running well for a long way over C&D (good to soft; first-time visor) last month; positives can still be drawn from that recent effort but others in this field look much less risky; cheekpieces back on today.

12/1

2

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

18:40 Cartmel

Curley Finger

12st 0lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Failed to win during light campaign last season; didn't run badly when fifth of six at Doncaster (3m, good) in March and will be suited by the forecast rain here but still needs a boost from today's change of headgear.

10/1

2

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

18:40 Cartmel

Curley Finger

12st 0lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Failed to win during light campaign last season; didn't run badly when fifth of six at Doncaster (3m, good) in March and will be suited by the forecast rain here but still needs a boost from today's change of headgear.

10/1

Form: 4-2416 BF

Last run: 43 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Comfortably got off the mark at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) in October and perhaps the heavy going didn't suit when below par at Carlisle 11 days later; back on better ground here and there's every chance 3m will be within range at this sharp track; he's one to consider.
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: 043-53 C

Last run: 65 days

W: 10st 7lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Her form has deteriorated over the last 12 months and a bit but she's dropped to a dangerous mark and has shown she retains some spark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

1st Jan 2024

Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:30 Musselburgh

Aurora Thunder

11st 9lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

held up in rear, headway and in touch with leaders after 8th

8/1

3rd

10

11th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 3

13:50 Ayr

Aurora Thunder

10st 9lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

9yo whose form has gone the wrong way and she needs to produce more than she's managed the last twice; however, she's dropped to a dangerous mark and has plenty of good form at Ayr; not written off.

10/1

Form: 24U-P8 C

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Three-time course winner (1m7f-2m4f over hurdles/fences); he's dropped down the weights and shouldn't be dismissed, but has struggled on both starts this season and is untested beyond 2m5f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

25th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:13 Perth

Diamond State

11st 12lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Lucinda Russell

Placed twice here this season (2m4f/3m) and probably won't be far away today but he's nothing like the force of old and has not won since 2022; others have more exciting profiles.

16/1

9th

8

17th Aug 2024

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

19:05 Perth

Diamond State

11st 5lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

Last hurdles win was in December 2021; consistent this summer, keeping on into fourth (immediately behind Dalileo) over C&D last month; needs to find extra to resume winning ways; stablemate of Starlyte.

14/1

4th

10

14th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 4

16:15 Perth

Diamond State

10st 5lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

in rear, hit 4th

12/1

Verdict

Heavy ground excuses the last performance from KILBRAINY and, now he’s back on a better surface, he earns the vote having won on good to soft going at Kelso two starts ago. Curley Finger can be a serious threat if rediscovering his spring form, while Aurora Thunder has dropped to a dangerous mark.[Ben Hutton]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Kilbrainy

Daily Mail:

Aurora Thunder

RP RATINGS:

Curley Finger

The Times:

Magna Sam

D Express:

Didtheyleaveuoutto

TOPSPEED:

Curley Finger

The Guardian:

Curley Finger

POSTDATA:

Kilbrainy

Telegraph:

Kilbrainy

Daily Mirror:

Kilbrainy

The Sun:

Aurora Thunder

The Star:

Aurora Thunder

Daily Record:

Aurora Thunder