October 14 / 15.20 Musselburgh

15.20

Good

Ray Hawthorne Memorial Handicap

  • Prize money: £4187.2
  • 1m 7f 217y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Ray Hawthorne Memorial Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

2/1 (Won)

Form: 700-51 C

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
She didn't look an easy ride here (1m6f, good) 12 days ago but flashed home to beat Rory The Cat by a neck; she's just 1lb higher today and the step back up to 2m could prompt further improvement from this unexposed 4yo.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

7

(13)

18th Nov 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

15:45 Newcastle (AW)

Reel Her In

9st 9lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Ben Haslam

Has done her winning on turf, most recently in May; form has dipped sharply in three runs (hurdles/Flat) since, the penultimate over C&D; not the percentage call.

25/1

3

(4)

9th Oct 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

16:20 Newcastle (AW)

Reel Her In

9st 11lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Ben Haslam

Three-time Flat winner since joining Ben Haslam last summer, most recently at Carlisle (2m1f, good to soft) in May; 2lb nudge for that looks fair but suffered a heavy defeat over hurdles when last seen in June; market support would boost her claims.

8/1

Form: 631744 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
He has an in-and-out profile but he won at Beverley in August and his fourth of five at Newcastle a fortnight ago came in a fairly warm little race; he's not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

5

(13)

29th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

19:25 Down Royal

Pons Aelius

9st 9lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: H D McGuigan

Six-time winner at up to 2m in Britain but yet to hit any sort of form for current yard; career-low mark and tongue-tie tried so don't rule out.

12/1

11th

7

(16)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 190y

15:22 Sligo

Pons Aelius

9st 11lb

J: Gabriella Hill

T: H D McGuigan

Donegal yard likes to pick up horses with back-form, often from Britain, and try to rejuvenate them; six-time winner at up to 2m but hasn't been finishing out his races in Ireland and been off a while.

18/1

8th

9

(9)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

2m 0f 0y

17:15 Dundalk (AW)

Pons Aelius

9st 0lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: H D McGuigan

Six-time winner for Charlie Johnston and best form over this trip; poor on first two runs for this yard at big prices; better than bare result when beaten over 5l at Gowran last May; yard's first runner of the year won on Tuesday; no surprise were he to go well after a break with leading claimer aboard.

20/1

Form: -64695

Last run: 12 days

W: 8st 11lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
Longstanding maiden who is hard to fancy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(3)

22nd Jun 2026

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

15:45 Musselburgh

Star Of Markinch

8st 4lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Gary Rutherford

Is 0-22 and she came in a well-held fourth of five in 2m handicap here 17 days ago; others are much preferred.

66/1

4th

7

(3)

5th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 7f 217y

Class 5

13:50 Musselburgh

Star Of Markinch

8st 4lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Gary Rutherford

0-44 under all codes (including three points); gave pretty good account when fourth of nine here (1m4f, good) two starts ago and will be fine over today's trip but can't be recommended from 10lb out of the weights.

50/1

4th

7

(3)

21st May 2026

Good

1m 7f 217y

Class 6

14:20 Musselburgh

Star Of Markinch

9st 11lb

J: Miss Emma J Brown

T: Gary Rutherford

Longstanding maiden; effective at the track and ran creditably over 1m4f here last week; still looks opposable for win purposes.

33/1

4th
5 (3)
Spantik

6/1

Form: 53-825 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Returned to form with good second at Ripon in August on second start back from an absence and soft going excuses his subsequent flop there; he's on a tempting mark and could have a big say now back on better ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

3

28th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 4

14:10 Musselburgh

Spantik

11st 9lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Roger Fell

Inconsistent on the Flat in recent months but has run a couple of good races and he's on a competitive mark judged on his hurdle form in autumn 2022; not ruled out on first jumps outing since that December.

16/1

Form: 366162 C

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Won here (1m6f, good) in August and faded into sixth here (2m2f, good) next time, before bouncing back with a close second to Reel Her In here (1m6f, good) 12 days ago; there can be hope he'll be fine at 2m today and he's one to consider.
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

11/2

Form: 728346 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Inconsistent and soundly beaten at Pontefract last time, but he's on a handy mark judged on his 2m wins at Catterick (good) and Chester (good to soft) in May, and there have been some bright moments since; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

14:35 Cartmel

Animato

11st 11lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Ran well for a long way when third of seven on latest hurdling start, at Doncaster (2m, soft) in February, and will be fine on the faster ground here but recent Flat form has been underwhelming; others appeal more.

10/1

3rd

5

(5)

4th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 47y

Class 5

20:09 Carlisle

Animato

9st 8lb

J: Miss Lizzie O’Neill

T: Donald McCain

Five-time Flat winner for David O'Meara but hasn't really threatened to add to tally on the Flat or over hurdles for this yard, including back on the level last month.

25/1

5th

1

(1)

25th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 6

18:00 Hamilton

Animato

11st 2lb

J: Miss Lizzie O’Neill

T: Donald McCain

Five-time Flat winner, the latest in May 2024, and he ran okay in February on his last hurdle start; he may have needed the run when back on the Flat three weeks ago and is not ruled out off a reduced mark.

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 661106 CD

Last run: 51 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Won at Catterick (2m, soft) in July and followed up over this C&D (good); he shouldn't be written off now back here but he's been well beaten the last twice and it's hard to be confident in his claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

25th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

14:13 Cartmel

Achnamara

11st 8lb

J: Ian Power

T: Philip Kirby

Didn't run badly in a low-grade Flat marathon last month but he ended the last jumps season with two disappointing runs (both 2m4f) and has a bit more to prove than some of these.

14/1

3rd

8

(1)

21st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 139y

Class 6

16:32 Pontefract

Achnamara

9st 0lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Philip Kirby

Well beaten over hurdles on his last two starts but hasn't run badly on his last two Flat outings (1m4f/2m, AW) and his trainer has won two of the last six runnings of this race; not discounted.

14/1

9th

3

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:07 Newcastle

Achnamara

11st 11lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Philip Kirby

Scored twice over hurdles (at about 2m4f) in 2024-25 but has failed to fire this term and beat just two in 2m4f Sedgefield handicap hurdle ten days ago; others appeal more.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £12.51

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Reel Her In

Daily Mail:

Rory The Cat

RP RATINGS:

Pons Aelius

POSTDATA:

Animato

The Times:

Reel Her In

Telegraph:

Reel Her In

The Guardian:

Reel Her In

D Express:

Reel Her In

The Sun:

Reel Her In

The Star:

Rory The Cat

Daily Record:

Rory The Cat

Daily Mirror:

Pons Aelius