January 01 / 15.30 Musselburgh

15.30

Good

Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 1m 7f 124y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

6/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 44-511 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten in two starts for Harry Derham who is back amongst the winners; 5lb higher than at Doncaster (won by a length) where Alice Stevens claimed 5lb, but clearly a strong contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 2

17:15 Aintree

Slugger

10st 10lb

J: Mr Finian Maguire

T: Harry Derham

midfield, smooth headway 4 out, joined leader going easily just after 2 out, not fluent but led narrowly last, soon ridden, headed and no extra final 110yds

25/1

2nd

8

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 2

17:15 Aintree

Slugger

10st 10lb

J: Mr Finian Maguire

T: Harry Derham

midfield, smooth headway 4 out, joined leader going easily just after 2 out, not fluent but led narrowly last, soon ridden, headed and no extra final 110yds

25/1

4th

9

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

15:30 Kelso

Slugger

11st 4lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Prominent-racer who is unbeaten in three starts for Harry Derham (1m7f-2m1f, good-soft), most recently beating five rivals at Musselburgh in January; today is a much tougher test of his credentials but this 6yo C&D winner is clearly thriving and could continue to improve for his up-and-coming yard.

14/1

5/1

  • Place: £4.30

Form: 522324

Last run: 34 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Dual winner stuck on a long losing run but he's consistent and has undergone wind surgery since finishing a 7l fourth over C&D a month ago; well beaten on the Flat when trying blinkers once before.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(1)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 39y

Class 6

16:10 Carlisle

Ravenscraig Castle

9st 6lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Tailed off over hurdles last time but ran well in that code in March; he's on a handy mark on last year's best Flat form; not ruled out.

14/1

9th

12

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:45 Ayr

Ravenscraig Castle

11st 2lb

J: William Maggs

T: Iain Jardine

Sole success in 17 runs over hurdles came at Perth last summer (2m, good); he's consistent but not progressive and was a well-held fifth in this last year off the very same mark.

20/1

4th

9

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 2

15:22 Musselburgh

Ravenscraig Castle

11st 1lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Iain Jardine

Sole win over hurdles, from 16 attempts, came at Perth (2m, good) last July; ran okay over C&D in January on his last two hurdle starts (good to soft) and is not ruled out each-way.

16/1

Form: -40407 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 11lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Has competitive form that ties in which a few of these but he ran flat last time at Doncaster and arrived here in better form when taking this 12 months ago; nothing wrong with his mark if staging a revival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

24th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

17:22 Kelso

Scots Poet

10st 7lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Ewan Whillans

Gained a first win for two years at Sedgefield (2m1f) in April and backed it up with a good second of nine in 2m Hexham handicap 15 days ago when set a lot to do; this veteran is not taken lightly eased 1lb.

7/2

2nd

5

9th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

18:15 Hexham

Scots Poet

11st 5lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Ewan Whillans

Mainly in good form this year, gaining a well-deserved win at Sedgefield last time (2m1f, good; blinkers on for fourth time); up 4lb; could go well again.

3/1

1st

6

10th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

16:45 Sedgefield

Scots Poet

11st 0lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Ewan Whillans

C&D winner (good); third on his last three starts, all at around 2m; chance but will need to raise his game to win this.

10/1

Form: -37247 CD

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Thoroughly exposed former Flat performer and finds winning hard these days; has ground to make up on both Mack The Man and Ginger Mail on last month's Kelso encounter.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

17:05 Perth

Cuban Cigar

10st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Stuck in a bit of a rut right now and he's at his best with some give underfoot; others preferred from 2lb out of the weights.

12/1

5th

2

13th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

16:53 Perth

Cuban Cigar

11st 3lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Lucinda Russell

Regressive 7yo who never really got competitive when sixth over C&D (good) last month; far too well handicapped to rule out but needs to stage a revival.

5/1

10

8th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

14:47 Perth

Cuban Cigar

11st 2lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Lucinda Russell

Not really firing on all cylinders since the winter but has slipped to a very tempting mark and, with blinkers refitted, was not beaten far when fifth in recent C&D handicap fought out by Just Dottie and Mack The Man.

12/1

Form: 1320-4 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Consistent gelding on a competitive mark and it was his first run for 232 days when close up behind Mack The Man at Kelso (2m, soft); well worth considering.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:45 Ayr

Ginger Mail

11st 4lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Exposed 10yo whose powers would appear to be on the wane judged on this season's performances; opposable.

33/1

11th

6

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 2

15:22 Musselburgh

Ginger Mail

11st 5lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

10yo whose mark continues to fall and he took a step back in the right direction when third of seven at Ayr a fortnight ago; it's possible he'll be able to build on that latest run but he was beaten just over 7l and certainly needs a bigger performance this afternoon.

14/1

3rd

3

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:20 Ayr

Ginger Mail

11st 8lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Boasts two wins around here, one over this distance, but has been below his best this term and was pulled up at Kelso (2m, heavy) last month in race won by Triple Crown Ted; hard to fancy.

16/1

Form: 542221

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Placed a few times on the Flat and again over hurdles before coming good in a Sedgefield maiden (2m1f, soft) where they were well strung out; this mark shouldn't be beyond him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

18:15 Hexham

Kingston Narcissus

10st 7lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won over hurdles in a first-time tongue-strap (retained since) at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft) in December; however, two below-par runs have followed and he now goes over fences; others may have more potential.

10/1

11th

5

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

13:30 Kelso

Kingston Narcissus

11st 7lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Enhanced his good record at Sedgefield when winning there in a first-time tongue-tie on Boxing Day on his first crack at 2m4f (good to soft); however, tailed off at Catterick since on soft ground he should have handled, and he needs to bounce back with a visor now added.

20/1

Non-runners

Mack The Man

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.10
Straight Forecast £11.44
Trifecta £56.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Slugger

RP RATINGS:

Cuban Cigar

POSTDATA:

Ginger Mail

Daily Mail:

Scots Poet

The Times:

Ravenscraig Castle

Telegraph:

Slugger

The Guardian:

Slugger

D Express:

Slugger

Daily Mirror:

Slugger

The Star:

Kingston Narcissus

Daily Record:

Kingston Narcissus

TOPSPEED:

Cuban Cigar