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

2nd

3

2nd Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

14:48 Perth

Ravenscraig Castle

11st 6lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Iain Jardine

Won over C&D (Class 5, good; same mark) last July; has mixed hurdling with Flat racing this year and wasn't beaten far when third over C&D (good; 7-1, Just Dottie fifth) 25 days ago; highly likely to give his running, even though he isn't a frequent winner.

7/2

3rd

3

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

15:17 Perth

Ravenscraig Castle

11st 10lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Iain Jardine

Good fourth at Musselburgh in March but tailed off in his last run over hurdles and down the field on the Flat last week; others look more likely.

10/1

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

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

1

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

15:12 Cartmel

Scots Poet

12st 0lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Ewan Whillans

Resurgent 10yo who led close home at Perth (2m, good) last month and has now won three times since April; unlucky to come to grief when back at Perth last week and remains of strong interest, albeit he was well beaten over C&D on his only previous start here.

3/1

2

12th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

17:01 Perth

Scots Poet

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Ewan Whillans

Resurgent 10yo who led close home over C&D (good) last month and has now won three of his last four; probably doesn't have much margin for error after latest 5lb rise but must be considered in current mood.

4/1

1st

13

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

15:17 Perth

Scots Poet

10st 12lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Ewan Whillans

Exposed multiple winner; he would have found the ground too soft when beaten by King Sacre at Hexham and then dug deep to win at Kelso (2m, good; 5lb lower); entitled to have some say.

6/1

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

2nd

9

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 1

14:45 Market Rasen

Kingston Narcissus

10st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Clearcut winner on chase debut (2m4f, good) on final run for Rebecca Menzies and similar sort of form in defeat in two runs for the Skeltons, last time pushing earlier-race contender Newton Rambler all the way back over 2m at Uttoxeter; returning to further looks a plus and this hold-up performer should have this run to suit him.

3/1

2nd

6

28th Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 2

14:52 Uttoxeter

Kingston Narcissus

11st 3lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Has taken his form to a new level since switched to fences, winning by wide margin at Hexham (final start for Rebecca Menzies) then creditable second at Worcester, both over 2m4f on good ground; likely to be as effective back down in distance and remains open to further progress in this sphere; respected.

11/4

2nd

2

17th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

13:35 Worcester

Kingston Narcissus

11st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Bounced back to form and kept on stoutly to win by 17l on chasing debut at Hexham (2m4f, good) last month, after which he was bought out of Rebecca Menzies' stable for £25,000; makes stable debut from 8lb higher mark but it will be interesting to see what Dan Skelton can do with him.

11/10

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