January 01 / 12.35 Musselburgh

12.35

Soft

tote.co.uk Hair Of The Dog Juvenile Hurdle (Go North Grey Bomber Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 1m 7f 124y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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tote.co.uk Hair Of The Dog Juvenile Hurdle (Go North Grey Bomber Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £12.00
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 61 CD

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: —

Form & Verdict
Dual Flat scorer at a modest level; didn't take to cheekpieces here (well behind Union Flag) on hurdles debut; won over C&D (soft) later in November, though, with usual blinkers reapplied; enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(7)

1st Oct 2025

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 6

16:38 Musselburgh

Rory The Cat

9st 3lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Went close off 8lb higher in this race (good) last year but he's generally struggled since (Flat and hurdles) and was a remote fourth of five here last time; that took his losing run to 12 and others are preferred.

15/2

4

(4)

14th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

15:25 Musselburgh

Rory The Cat

8st 11lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won over 1m6f here last August off 3lb higher but below form since; showed a bit more when third of five over C&D (good) 19 days ago, however, and a further 2lb drop in the weights gives him a fighting chance.

5/2

2

(3)

26th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

16:50 Musselburgh

Rory The Cat

9st 9lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Now 1lb lower than his win here over 1m6f (good) last August but he's been well beaten in three starts this summer, on this track and at Ayr; bit to prove.

10/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: —

Last run: —

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict
Showed promise (over 1m4f) on the latest of two starts in Curragh maidens for the Harty stable; sold for 54,000euros since; interesting on debut for a trainer who has won this race three times in the last five years.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

24th Sep 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

15:42 Listowel

Churchwarden

11st 10lb

J: Dylan Whelan

T: Henry De Bromhead

Hurdles winner two seasons ago; gained a first Flat win at Tramore in July on his third run for this yard, in first-time blinkers, scoring by 10l; some concern that he has been a beaten favourite in two small-field events (hurdles and Flat) at the same venue since then.

5/1

3rd

5

(2)

15th Aug 2026

Yielding

1m 4f 0y

18:55 Tramore

Churchwarden

9st 10lb

J: Gary Carroll

T: Henry De Bromhead

Bounced back to form when gaining a first Flat win on his third run for this yard over C&D last month in first-time blinkers, successful by 10l; hefty 12lb hike for that but interesting if headgear continues to work; just second over hurdles here on Thursday.

5/2

2nd

1

13th Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

18:48 Tramore

Churchwarden

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won a Kilbeggan handicap hurdle in 2024 for John McConnell; came back to form in first-time blinkers to easily win on the Flat here over 1m4f last time; has to be respected back hurdling assuming the blinkers have the desired effect again.

13/8

Form: 314 CD BF

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Disappointing at Catterick last time but recorded a comfortable win over C&D (good to soft; stable debut) earlier in November and holds leading claims on that form; could well rebound, returned to Musselburgh.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

4th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 1

13:20 Musselburgh

Union Flag

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Fair middle-distance Flat maiden in Ireland; comfortable win over C&D (good to soft) on hurdle/stable debut but flopped at Catterick next time and again below form back here (behind two of these) on latest start; carries his head awkwardly; questions to answer.

16/1

3rd

3

1st Jan 2024

Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 4

12:35 Musselburgh

Union Flag

11st 7lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Donald McCain

in touch with leaders

5/2

4th

2

24th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

12:40 Catterick

Union Flag

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

led, headed after 3rd, lost second home turn, outpaced 2 out, weakened quickly approaching last, not fluent last

6/4

Form: 1 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: —

Form & Verdict
The pick of this field judged on his Irish Flat form; scored by a wide margin at Catterick (1m7f, good to soft) on the switch to hurdles and commands respect with penalty offset by Daire Davis's 7lb claim.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

17th Oct 2026

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

16:18 Stratford

Teorie

11st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Dual hurdle winner but his last success was in a Southwell novice (2m, good to soft) in February 2024; generally struggled last season and now returns after six months off but he's on a reduced mark and needs checking in market on his first run for James Owen; tongue-tie removed.

5/2

7th

1

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

18:10 Exeter

Teorie

12st 0lb

J: Robbie David

T: Daisy Hitchins

Two-time winner over hurdles on good to soft, at around 2m (acts on a sound surface); stays 2m5f; some way below his best since last spring; well treated on form of almost a year ago if bouncing back but has that to prove.

10/1

6th

7

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:50 Chepstow

Teorie

11st 9lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Daisy Hitchins

Out of form on slow ground during the winter but his recent fifth at Wincanton (3m, good to soft) was a step back in the right direction, and he might be seen to better effect if the ground is genuinely good here.

20/1

Form: F5

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict
Beaten when taking a final-flight fall here (race won by Union Flag) on debut; folded tamely at Ayr (soft) since; needs improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

9th Sep 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

14:58 Newton Abbot

La Quarite

11st 12lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

Won by 36l over C&D in July but that race fell apart and he hasn't threatened since, beaten about 14l returned to fences the last twice; could be on a tough mark (that last win was off 12lb lower) but this is weak.

11/8

Form: 7

Last run: 51 days

W: 10st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR: —

Form & Verdict
Unpromising debut (beaten very long way) in Aintree bumper in November, having been friendless in the betting; best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

17th Aug 2024

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

16:30 Perth

Apples Destiny

10st 8lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: R Mike Smith

midfield, towards rear 4th

100/1

11th

12

14th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:15 Perth

Apples Destiny

10st 2lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

in rear

100/1

6

30th Jun 2024

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

13:30 Cartmel

Apples Destiny

10st 9lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: R Mike Smith

Tailed off in a bumper (66-1) and pulled up on switch to hurdling (200-1).

66/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £57.80
Straight Forecast £62.85
Trifecta £134.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Teorie

The Times:

Churchwarden

POSTDATA:

Union Flag

Daily Mail:

Rory The Cat

RP RATINGS:

Teorie

Telegraph:

Teorie

The Guardian:

Teorie

D Express:

Teorie

Daily Mirror:

Teorie

The Sun:

Teorie

The Star:

Teorie

Daily Record:

Teorie