January 05 / 15.05 Musselburgh

15.05

Soft

@ToteRacing On Twitter (Not X) Handicap Chase (Go North One Man Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 1m 7f 182y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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@ToteRacing On Twitter (Not X) Handicap Chase (Go North One Man Series Qualifier)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £2.00

Form: /14P-7 C

Last run: 62 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Won two in a row over hurdles here (2m4f, soft/good) in early 2022 and completed a hat-trick on chase debut here (2m4f, good to soft) that November; below best on his three runs since but didn't run badly on his reappearance at Ayr two months ago and could have a part to play now back here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:50 Ludlow

Hold Onto The Line

12st 6lb

J: Mr James King

T: Mrs Jessica Botham

Three-time winner over fences for James Ewart (2m-2m4f) but he didn't get going for Olly Murphy and it's been a similar story in two points and a hunter chase (all about 3m) for these connections; the drop back in trip might help, though.

50/1

3rd

2

2nd Mar 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

15:15 Southwell

Hold Onto The Line

12st 6lb

J: Mr James King

T: Mrs Jessica Botham

Has folded in a couple of points for new yard and his record over 3m remains far from solid; yet to win beyond 2m4f and faces a stiff task at the weights; hunter chase debut.

16/1

7th

5

25th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:43 Perth

Hold Onto The Line

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Did well over fences for James Ewart but a beaten favourite in both his runs for Olly Murphy (2m/2m2f handicap chases) and currently has a bit to prove; does stay this far so stamina will be no excuse.

11/2

8/1

  • Place: £3.50

Form: 522753 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 2lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
11yo who is 6lb out of the handicap but was a fair third at Catterick (1m7f, good to soft) last month, and his last two wins came here (2m/2m4f, good to soft/soft); most of these having something to prove; could have a say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

11

10th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

17:48 Sedgefield

Budarri

10st 5lb

J: Edward Austin

T: Stuart Coltherd

No win since scoring at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft) in February 2023, but has finished runner-up four times since, including to Kicksaftersix at Hexham (2m) last summer; was "never travelling" when last in action at Musselburgh three months ago; no issue with the forecast conditions.

14/1

9th

11

10th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

17:48 Sedgefield

Budarri

10st 5lb

J: Edward Austin

T: Stuart Coltherd

No win since scoring at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft) in February 2023, but has finished runner-up four times since, including to Kicksaftersix at Hexham (2m) last summer; was "never travelling" when last in action at Musselburgh three months ago; no issue with the forecast conditions.

14/1

5

18th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 5

16:20 Musselburgh

Budarri

10st 13lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Stuart Coltherd

Fair second here (2m, soft) last month when 6lb out of the handicap and runs off his proper mark today, which is the same as when winning this 12 months ago (soft); strong contender.

7/2

Form: 561F-5 D

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Won on chase debut at Warwick (2m, soft) last March; weakening when falling at final fence at Haydock (2m4f, good to soft) next time, and soundly beaten at Sedgefield (2m3f, soft) on reappearance; however, this lightly raced 7yo retains potential now back down in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

18th Sep 2024

Good

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

18:05 Kelso

Upagainstit

11st 10lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Won a Warwick novice handicap chase (2m, soft) off an 8lb higher mark in March 2023; fair run when over hurdles at Bangor in June (2m, good); cheekpieces tried; bit to prove.

7/1

10th

2

21st Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:50 Worcester

Upagainstit

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Generally disappointing since winning chase debut in March 2023 but posted a couple of decent efforts over hurdles in June (albeit a late faller on latter occasion) and reverts to fences with renewed hope.

8/1

7

28th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

18:48 Bangor-on-Dee

Upagainstit

11st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Narrow winner off 7lb higher over fences at Warwick (2m, soft) last March; has not matched that form since but he returned to hurdling with a second in C&D novice (good) three weeks ago; was allowed to dictate in that race but that was more like it and he's in the mix back in a handicap; one of two runners for yard.

5/1

Form: P57PF- D

Last run: 259 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Has tumbled down the weights but he struggled last season on his final few runs for David Pipe and was sold for £7,500 in May; probably best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

26th Jul 2024

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 4

17:05 Uttoxeter

Texard

10st 8lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Richard Armson

Won easily by 21l off today's mark at Market Rasen (2m1f, good to soft) in April but has lost his way in recent weeks and was pulled up when returned to Market Rasen on Saturday; needs a rebound.

16/1

9

20th Jul 2024

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 4

15:50 Market Rasen

Texard

11st 4lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Richard Armson

Won by 21l over C&D in April (good to soft) but more recent efforts have been underwhelming; others have more going for them.

25/1

Form: 04-164 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Won on chase debut at Perth (2m, good) last May and he's also effective on soft ground; something to prove having been soundly beaten the last twice but this looks a modest race and he may be able to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

15th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 209y

Class 4

19:30 Aintree

Lively Citizen

11st 12lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: D J Jeffreys

Long in the tooth and no longer the force of old but bounced back from two poor chase runs with respectable effort over hurdles at Haydock (1m7f, good) last month and is now 5lb lower than when going close in this race a year ago; could have a say.

12/1

5th

7

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 3

17:35 Haydock

Lively Citizen

11st 6lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: D J Jeffreys

Very capable over fences but pulled up in that discipline on his last two starts following a break of 217 days; he did go close over hurdles at Aintree three runs ago so there's a big effort in him if he can get his act together.

25/1

Form: 343431 CD

Last run: 58 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Exploited a reduced mark when winning under Lewis Dobb over C&D (good to soft) in November; there's a doubt about him on soft ground nowadays; a 4lb rise may not stop him if he can reproduce that latest form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

22nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:40 Kelso

Friary Rock

11st 9lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: L J Morgan

Four-time chaser winner; out of form when last in action last spring but resumes on a workable mark and with trip/ground suitable; market may guide.

12/1

4

22nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:40 Kelso

Friary Rock

11st 9lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: L J Morgan

Four-time chaser winner; out of form when last in action last spring but resumes on a workable mark and with trip/ground suitable; market may guide.

12/1

5th

6

23rd May 2024

Good

2m 3f 34y

Class 4

15:28 Market Rasen

Friary Rock

11st 2lb

J: John Kington

T: L J Morgan

All wins on good/good to soft (2m-2m5f); won at Musselburgh in November (2m); pulled up on soft ground in January but posted a better effort back on a more suitable surface when third to a 20l winner here (2m5f, good) this month after a four-month break; should be all the sharper for that and he's back on a good mark; each-way claims.

7/1

Form: 32-333 CD

Last run: 157 days

W: 10st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
10yo who has been beaten on her last 11 starts going back to March 2022 and is 8lb out of the handicap on this first outing since last August; however, she was consistent last season and all three of her wins have come here; this might not take much winning and she could have a chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

18th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 5

16:20 Musselburgh

Izzys Champion

10st 11lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

10yo whose losing run goes back 12 races to March 2022, and pulled up here last month; however, he may have needed that first run since last August and all three wins have come here; not ruled out off reduced mark.

8/1

0

7

5th Jan 2024

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

15:05 Musselburgh

Izzys Champion

10st 2lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Lucinda Russell

in touch with leaders in centre of group, not fluent 5th

13/2

3rd

6

1st Aug 2023

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 5

20:30 Perth

Izzys Champion

10st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Gained all three wins at Musselburgh but his C&D third in May was a fairly good effort and he also ran quite well at Market Rasen in June; slightly out of the weights today but won't mind what the weather does; likely contender.

3/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £21.40
Straight Forecast £21.72
Trifecta £110.30

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Friary Rock

SPOTLIGHT:

Upagainstit

Telegraph:

Lively Citizen

TOPSPEED:

Upagainstit

The Times:

Upagainstit

POSTDATA:

Friary Rock

The Guardian:

Friary Rock

Daily Mail:

Friary Rock

D Express:

Friary Rock

Daily Mirror:

Friary Rock

The Sun:

Friary Rock

The Star:

Friary Rock

Daily Record:

Friary Rock