November 29 / 13.45 Musselburgh

13.45

Good To Soft

Two Plus Two Handicap Chase (Go North Red Rum Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 7f 138y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Two Plus Two Handicap Chase (Go North Red Rum Series Qualifier)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.70
  • Place: £2.50

Form: -12348 C

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Course winner who is on the same mark as his 3m win at Hexham (good) in May but he might have done better at Sedgefield recently when returning from a break (has won twice when fresh); perhaps the return to this track will see better from him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:20 Hexham

Dr Shirocco

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Sandy Forster

Veteran without a win since November 2024 but showed there was still fire in the tank when third over C&D 17 days ago; younger rivals may have his measure here, however.

12/1

3rd

10

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Dr Shirocco

10st 5lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Sandy Forster

Has won four chases, including over C&D in May 2024 (good); best recent form has been at Musselburgh and he was below par over C&D last time (good).

14/1

6th

7

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:30 Hexham

Dr Shirocco

10st 10lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Sandy Forster

11yo whose losing run goes back 11 races to November 2024 but he ran pretty well off his lower hurdle mark at Musselburgh last month, following a break, and all four of his wins have come over fences (two of them here); not discounted back chasing.

10/1

11/8

  • Place: £2.30

Form: /211-1 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Front-runs; progressive 3m chaser in 2023 who wasn't seen after September that year and did well to win back hurdling at Ayr (3m, good to soft; cheekpieces left off, refitted today) last month, when beating a subsequent dual winner; 7lb higher than latest chase win but bold bid likely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

29th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 5

13:45 Musselburgh

Hapy La Vie

11st 1lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: James Ewart

jumped left on occasions, led, ridden and faced challenges before 2 out, kept on but headed post

11/8

2nd

4

29th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 5

13:45 Musselburgh

Hapy La Vie

11st 1lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: James Ewart

jumped left on occasions, led, ridden and faced challenges before 2 out, kept on but headed post

11/8

1st

9

28th Oct 2024

Good

3m 0f 70y

Class 5

13:47 Ayr

Hapy La Vie

10st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: James Ewart

made all

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: U6-641 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Went quiet after winning at Hexham last October but he hinted at a revival over hurdles in October and he got up a good head of steam to win a Hexham chase (3m, good) 21 days ago; back up 6lb but three previous handicap wins were all off higher marks; has every chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

14th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:48 Hexham

Return Fire

11st 11lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

midfield, lost ground 4th, detached after 5th, struggling when pulled up before 15th

10/1

2

14th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:48 Hexham

Return Fire

11st 11lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Bagged a second C&D victory in November but his more recent form is less encouraging, only sixth over C&D last time; handily weighted if getting back on track, though.

10/1

6th

3

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

16:22 Hexham

Return Fire

11st 9lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

Resumed winning ways over C&D in November and posted a respectable sixth of ten in 3m Musselburgh handicap chase following month; much respected for his in-form yard after a break.

6/1

Form: -97366

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Won first two starts, a point and a bumper, but out of luck in handicap hurdles and on chase debut at Hexham (3m, good) in October, when laboured from some way out; mark continues to head south; needs more for refitted cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:30 Cartmel

Defence Witness

11st 8lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Sam England

Justified favouritism over 2m5f on this card last year (good to soft), and added a Catterick stayers' event in the winter, both off 4lb lower; all wins on good to soft and soft but last month's Sedgefield second on good was the equal of his peak soft-ground form; chance.

9/2

2nd

3

10th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 59y

Class 5

15:38 Sedgefield

Defence Witness

11st 3lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Point, bumper and dual chase winner at up to 3m1f, all on slow ground; below par at Kelso latest (2m5f, good to soft); on a competitive mark if bouncing back but will need to produce better than he has previously done on good going.

7/2

7th

10

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 2

14:40 Kelso

Defence Witness

10st 2lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Progressive in cheekpieces this season, winning twice (2m5f/3m1f, good to soft/soft) and posting a good second at Sedgefield (3m2f, soft) last time; it's possible the first-time blinkers will prompt a positive reaction today but he's up in grade and a career best is necessary.

9/1

Form: 4-65P0

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Has had few realistic chances but his handicap form over fences and hurdles has been modest so far; up again in trip with plenty to find.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

4th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

16:28 Sedgefield

Uncle Mac

10st 4lb

J: Edward Austin

T: Paul Robson

0-11 under all codes and absent since never-dangerous fifth in Carlisle chase last April; others have considerably less to prove.

25/1

5th

9

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 198y

Class 5

14:17 Carlisle

Uncle Mac

10st 8lb

J: Edward Austin

T: Paul Robson

held up in rear

25/1

5th

9

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 198y

Class 5

14:17 Carlisle

Uncle Mac

10st 8lb

J: Edward Austin

T: Paul Robson

held up in rear

25/1

Form: 4P87-F

Last run: 209 days

W: 10st 5lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Both chase wins over 2m4f on heavy in early 2023; has not been in much form since back from a break in February and he hasn't been seen since falling at Hexham in May.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

26th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 5

17:15 Wetherby

Ex SElance

10st 2lb

J: Miss Pippa Brown

T: Victor Thompson

Third in a point-to-point last month but this 12yo was pulled up when back under rules at Ayr (3m, soft) recently; 7lb out of the handicap and others are preferred.

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £44.20
Straight Forecast £41.40
Trifecta £110.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Hapy La Vie

RP RATINGS:

Return Fire

D Express:

Defence Witness

Telegraph:

Dr Shirocco

Daily Mail:

Hapy La Vie

The Sun:

Hapy La Vie

The Star:

Hapy La Vie

Daily Record:

Hapy La Vie

POSTDATA:

Return Fire

The Times:

Return Fire

The Guardian:

Return Fire

Daily Mirror:

Return Fire