February 03 / 16.00 Musselburgh

16.00

Good To Soft

bet365 Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 2m 7f 138y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
RTV
View Course
bet365 Handicap Chase

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Windy

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 337-11 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Sprinted well clear of the others with a well-handicapped rival at Market Rasen (3m, good to soft) last month and is now 2-2 for Brian Ellison; latest 4lb rise does not look excessive and he can complete the hat-trick.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

4m 1f 56y

Class 2

14:43 Newcastle

Anglers Crag

10st 4lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

The final leg of his four-timer for Brian Ellison two winters back was this race off 4lb lower than today; never fired on all cylinders last term but reappeared for new yard in November with a sparkling win, employing new tactics as he made all at Carlisle to come home 9l clear; back up 8lb, so needs to be back at his very best, but he's one for the shortlist.

5/1

5

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:17 Perth

Anglers Crag

11st 5lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Brian Ellison

Has had a patchy campaign and was pulled up in the Midland National last time; however, he showed some spark at Musselburgh (3m7f, good to soft) in February and is just 1lb higher than when winning the Eider at Newcastle (4m1f, heavy) last season; not ruled out now back down in trip/grade.

8/1

5

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:17 Perth

Anglers Crag

11st 5lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Brian Ellison

in rear, outpaced 5 out

8/1

11/1

  • Place: £2.80

Form: 15U2-8

Last run: 100 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Made a satisfactory seasonal debut when midfield over 2m4f in October and has not raced since but he has slipped to a workable mark and is unexposed over this sort of trip; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

15:57 Musselburgh

Captain Quint

10st 12lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Paul Robson

held up in rear, not fluent 11th, struggling 13th, lost touch when mistake 14th

12/1

5

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

15:57 Musselburgh

Captain Quint

10st 12lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Paul Robson

held up in rear, not fluent 11th, struggling 13th, lost touch when mistake 14th

12/1

7/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 121-3F CD

Last run: 84 days

W: 10st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Dual course winner (2m4f/3m) for new stable last season and made quite a pleasing reappearance when placed at Carlisle in the autumn; in contention before penultimate-fence fall at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) in November and sure to be suited by the return to this track; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

16th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:20 Perth

Massini Man

11st 4lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

in rear, slow jump 2nd, bad mistake 3rd, soon pulled up

7/2

6

16th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:20 Perth

Massini Man

11st 4lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

Failed to win during fairly light campaign last season but was placed on consecutive 2m7f starts at Musselburgh (good to soft/soft) in February and those efforts bring him into the equation here.

7/2

2nd

4

18th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 4

15:20 Musselburgh

Massini Man

11st 3lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

Won twice here last season (2m4f/3m, good to soft/soft) and fair third over C&D (good to soft) a fortnight ago when about 3l behind the runner-up Captain Quint; might not be far away.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 7-2U13 CD

Last run: 33 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Posted career-best performance when scoring by 7l over C&D (soft) in November; not quite in same form when well-held third here (2m4f, soft) on New Year's Day, though, and might remain vulnerable off a mark this high.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 4f 19y

Class 4

15:38 Newcastle

Half Shot

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Iain Jardine

Has won four chases, latest at Kelso in April (2m7f, good); mixed form since, including fair third back at Kelso last time (3m2f, good); a possible, though perhaps better at further these days.

11/4

2

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 4f 19y

Class 4

15:38 Newcastle

Half Shot

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Iain Jardine

Has won four chases, latest at Kelso in April (2m7f, good); mixed form since, including fair third back at Kelso last time (3m2f, good); a possible, though perhaps better at further these days.

11/4

4th

1

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

17:00 Kelso

Half Shot

12st 1lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Iain Jardine

Captured this prize a year ago and in good form until ridden aggressively when tenth in 2m5f Cartmel handicap chase 23 days ago; it would come as no surprise to see him play a major role here.

9/1

Form: F1-6U1 D

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Returned to form with front-running win at Ayr (3m, soft) in December and is now 3-9 over fences; should be fine on this right-handed track but latest 7lb rise demands more from him and he may not be allowed an uncontested lead this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

26th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:50 Perth

Readysteadybeau

10st 13lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Won from the front at Ayr (3m, soft; beat Marown by 6.5l) in December to make it 3-9 over fences; couldn't lead when disappointing three months ago; if getting to the front he's not without hope of staying there.

4/1

6

26th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:50 Perth

Readysteadybeau

10st 13lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

led, bad mistake and headed 4 out, soon lost ground quickly, pulled up after 3 out

4/1

5th

4

3rd Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

16:00 Musselburgh

Readysteadybeau

11st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Returned to form with front-running win at Ayr (3m, soft) in December and is now 3-9 over fences; should be fine on this right-handed track but latest 7lb rise demands more from him and he may not be allowed an uncontested lead this time.

4/1

Form: 23-P11 C

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Ended 2023 in excellent form, winning from the front at Doncaster (2m3f, good) and Ludlow (2m4f, soft); he turned the latter race into a stamina test and might be seen to even better effect over this longer trip; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 205y

Class 4

14:30 Stratford

Cartonne

11st 10lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Front-running chaser who can go clear in his races but he's not won since December 2023 and was pulled up in his last two runs over fences; on dangerous mark back in this sphere but he needs a major revival after six months off.

7/1

3rd

4

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

14:52 Carlisle

Cartonne

11st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

led, headed and raced in second 8th, weakened before 2 out

7/1

3rd

4

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

14:52 Carlisle

Cartonne

11st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

led, headed and raced in second 8th, weakened before 2 out

7/1

Form: 3212-P D

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 11lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Dug deep to lead close home at Hexham (2m4f, heavy) for Patrick Griffin last spring but, following a break, made lacklustre stable debut in December; the refitted cheekpieces need to make a huge difference today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

6th Oct 2024

Good

3m 2f 39y

Class 4

15:15 Kelso

Chameron

10st 10lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Jackie Stephen

disputed lead early, in touch with leaders before 3rd, not fluent and reminders 6th, lost ground quickly after 9th, dropped to rear after 10th, pulled up before 13th

33/1

6th

9

7th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

15:22 Carlisle

Chameron

11st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Jackie Stephen

Won at Hexham (2m4f, heavy) last March and is well very handicapped on that form, but this 11yo has been badly out of form this season.

66/1

6th

9

7th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

15:22 Carlisle

Chameron

11st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Jackie Stephen

Won at Hexham (2m4f, heavy) last March and is well very handicapped on that form, but this 11yo has been badly out of form this season.

66/1

Form: 2-P6P4 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Not firing on all cylinders since returning in the autumn from a break, and the addition of blinkers (retained) did not appear to make much difference at Punchestown three weeks ago; now has tongue-tie fitted for first time since maiden hurdle win in 2021; needs to up his game but respected Irish trainer has booked Brian Hughes.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

22nd Apr 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 0y

15:25 Fairyhouse

Routine Excellence

10st 11lb

J: Miss C O O’Brien

T: Gavin Cromwell

Won a 2m4f claimer at Bellewstown last August; signs of returning to form when fourth to Secrecies Of Stone in a handicap chase at Leopardstown last month; ran over an inadequate trip in a claiming hurdle at Tramore last Tuesday; third to So Des Flos in this last season.

12/1

8th

6

22nd Apr 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 0y

15:25 Fairyhouse

Routine Excellence

10st 11lb

J: Miss C O O’Brien

T: Gavin Cromwell

Won a 2m4f claimer at Bellewstown last August; signs of returning to form when fourth to Secrecies Of Stone in a handicap chase at Leopardstown last month; ran over an inadequate trip in a claiming hurdle at Tramore last Tuesday; third to So Des Flos in this last season.

12/1

Form: 11P-36 CD

Last run: 65 days

W: 10st 12lb

10 yo Mare

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Finished with a flourish to win lower-grade version of this race a year ago and followed up in C&D match race a fortnight later; back down to a similar mark now but posed no threat behind Half Shot here in November, after a break, and has been off for another 65 days since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

3rd Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

16:00 Musselburgh

Methodtothemadness

10st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Finished with a flourish to win lower-grade version of this race a year ago and followed up in C&D match race a fortnight later; back down to a similar mark now but posed no threat behind Half Shot here in November, after a break, and has been off for another 65 days since.

11/1

6th

7

30th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

14:45 Musselburgh

Methodtothemadness

11st 3lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Dual C&D winner in two small-field events last season; acts on good or slower; absent since may and has had wind surgery; goes well when fresh and should be competitive from this mark.

15/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.30
Straight Forecast £13.90
Tricast £56.04
Trifecta £86.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Anglers Crag

POSTDATA:

Cartonne

The Guardian:

Readysteadybeau

TOPSPEED:

Half Shot

Telegraph:

Cartonne

Daily Mail:

Readysteadybeau

RP RATINGS:

Anglers Crag

The Times:

Anglers Crag

D Express:

Anglers Crag

Daily Mirror:

Anglers Crag

The Star:

Anglers Crag

Daily Record:

Anglers Crag

The Sun:

Half Shot