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
View Course
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

5

13th Jun 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

16:42 Hexham

Dr Shirocco

10st 4lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Sandy Forster

Record of 2-17 around Hexham includes one C&D chase win two years ago (good); hasn't hit the line strongly on any of his three most recent visits, losing second to Killybegs Jet Lady in the middle one of these, and surprising if nothing is going better at the end here.

10/1

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

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