January 03 / 15.27 Musselburgh

15.27

Soft

Virgin Bet Open National Hunt Flat Race (Go North Jodami Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £2723
  • 1m 7f 124y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet Open National Hunt Flat Race (Go North Jodami Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

Form: 12 D

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Caused 18-1 surprise on debut at Kelso (good) in September and was clear second under penalty there (good to soft) in November; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:20 Ayr

Beyond The Verge

11st 7lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Susan Corbett

Made winning start at Kelso (good) in September and performed even better when second under a penalty over the same C&D (good to soft) in November; this is a sterner assignment but he's open to further improvement and his stable had another bumper winner at Newcastle last weekend.

14/1

1

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:20 Ayr

Beyond The Verge

11st 7lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Susan Corbett

Made winning start at Kelso (good) in September and performed even better when second under a penalty over the same C&D (good to soft) in November; this is a sterner assignment but he's open to further improvement and his stable had another bumper winner at Newcastle last weekend.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fourth foal; dam 5f-1m6f Flat winner/Cesarewitch second (RPR 102) and useful 2m-2m3f hurdle winner; Flat-oriented stable is 0-14 in bumpers during last five seasons; hooded on debut; market may guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(6)

4th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 16y

Class 5

16:51 Hamilton

Gallus Norman

8st 13lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Improved form when runner-up on handicap debut at Musselburgh (1m4f, good) in April and easily made all back there (2m, good) a fortnight ago; he enjoyed the run of the race last time but a 6lb rise isn't harsh in view of this unexposed 7yo's dominance; has to be respected.

9/4

1st

4

(2)

21st May 2026

Good

1m 7f 217y

Class 6

14:20 Musselburgh

Gallus Norman

10st 7lb

J: Mr Eireann Cagney

T: Jim Goldie

Struggled in bumpers/maiden and novice races on his first five starts but the switch to middle-distance handicaps sparked a good jolt of improvement three weeks ago, finding only the red-hot favourite too strong over 1m4f here; 2m should be within range and he has a top amateur booked; obvious chance of going one better.

4/1

2nd

5

(3)

29th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

14:40 Musselburgh

Gallus Norman

9st 1lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Well beaten in two bumpers and three Flat runs at up to 1m3f last year but much more realistic chance now handicapping at a low level after nine months off; one to note in the betting.

7/1

Form: 2

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Out of an unraced half-sister to high-class jumper Peddlers Cross; kept on well for second of six on last month's debut at Sedgefield (soft) but that looked a modest race and he needs to improve here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:07 Newcastle

Noble George

11st 10lb

J: Ian Power

T: Jennie Candlish

Twice a runner-up in bumpers; failed to build on earlier promise in this sphere when pulled up on his handicap debut at Bangor (2m4f) three weeks ago; cheekpieces are retained and he could still do better for good yard.

25/1

8

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

16:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Noble George

11st 8lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jennie Candlish

Couldn't make a compelling case on this handicap debut and others preferred even if he is backed in the first-time cheekpieces.

14/1

6th

11

18th Feb 2026

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

15:55 Southwell

Noble George

11st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Beaten a combined 73l on last two starts; captured the stewards' attention at Newcastle on first occasion; needs this fourth run for a mark.

16/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
First foal from a fair hurdler; bought for £40,000 soon after narrow Irish point win (good to yielding) in November; interesting to see how he fares on this rules debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

17th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

14:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Soldier In Mayo

11st 11lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Irish point winner who made steady progress in his qualifying races over hurdles last season; placed in Sedgefield maiden (2m4f, good) last month and should have further improvement to come in handicaps.

7/2

1st

3

17th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

14:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Soldier In Mayo

11st 11lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Irish point winner who made steady progress in his qualifying races over hurdles last season; placed in Sedgefield maiden (2m4f, good) last month and should have further improvement to come in handicaps.

7/2

5

3rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

14:07 Sedgefield

Soldier In Mayo

11st 6lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Point winner; behind Nathan Wells at Hexham (2m, good to soft) recently but that was only his second outing over hurdles and he's bred to do better now upped in distance; likely to improve.

13/2

Form: 6

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Out of a mare from a good jumping family but was unable to justify prominence in the betting when last of six on debut at Ayr (good) in November and needs subsequent wind op to have made a big difference.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

20th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

19:58 Hexham

Wild Reiver

11st 2lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Iain Jardine

Beaten by 56l and 57l in two novice hurdles at Kelso (2m2f-2m5f); no reason to anticipate a sharp upturn in fortunes.

33/1

2

20th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

19:58 Hexham

Wild Reiver

11st 2lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Iain Jardine

Beaten by 56l and 57l in two novice hurdles at Kelso (2m2f-2m5f); no reason to anticipate a sharp upturn in fortunes.

33/1

5th

5

7th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

14:55 Kelso

Wild Reiver

11st 1lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Iain Jardine

Failed to beat a rival in two bumpers and was tailed off at 150-1 on hurdling debut here (2m2f, good) last month.

25/1

Form: 3 BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Brother to fair hurdler Hombre De Guerra; raced a bit too freely but shaped with considerable promise before fading into third on last month's debut at Wetherby (soft); likely contender here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:45 Ayr

Caballo De Guerra

11st 12lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Kelso novice winner in October (2m, good; effective on soft) and continued to run well until racing too freely in a Grade 2 at Kelso last time out; well held in a bumper when he tried a hood once before but this aid is worth another go.

20/1

5th

2

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 25y

Class 1

14:15 Kelso

Caballo De Guerra

11st 5lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won on hurdle debut here (2m, good) in October and has continued to run well, most recently fourth on handicap debut at Haydock (1m7f, good to soft) last month; needs something extra today but his stable won this last year and is having a much better February than January; not ruled out.

40/1

4th

4

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 144y

Class 3

12:50 Haydock

Caballo De Guerra

11st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won in good style on hurdle debut at Kelso (2m, good) in October and fourth in a couple of warm races subsequently (2m, good/soft); in good hands to progress and he brings potential to this handicap debut.

6/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
13,000euros 3yo; ninth foal; brother to stable's smart chaser Elvis Mail, half-brother to four winners including useful jumpers Dali Mail and Ginger Mail; dam French maiden; stable has relatively modest strike-rate in bumpers but, nevertheless, this newcomer appeals on paper.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

6th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:25 Kelso

Lester Mail

11st 10lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Won a bumper here last April (2m, good); mixed form over hurdles, including fair fourth on handicap debut here last time (2m2f, good); further progress likely, particularly now up to 2m4f.

11/2

4th

3

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

16:30 Kelso

Lester Mail

11st 10lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Won a bumper here last April; has shown ability in three runs over hurdles and can be expected to show improvement now that he steps up in trip on his handicap debut.

15/2

5th

6

15th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 4

13:50 Musselburgh

Lester Mail

11st 7lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Registered his bumper win in a weak race at Kelso; modest fourth there (2m) in latest attempt over hurdles; needs to improve.

16/1

Non-runners

Centurions Sister

Verdict

Beyond The Verge (second choice) began his career with two good runs at Kelso, while Irish point winner Soldier In Mayo has joined a good stable for his rules career and also looks interesting. However, CABALLO DE GUERRA travelled strongly for a long way when placed at Wetherby and might be the answer.[Chris Wilson]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Caballo De Guerra

Daily Mail:

Beyond The Verge

Telegraph:

Lester Mail

RP RATINGS:

Caballo De Guerra

POSTDATA:

Caballo De Guerra

The Times:

Caballo De Guerra

The Guardian:

Caballo De Guerra

D Express:

Caballo De Guerra

Daily Mirror:

Caballo De Guerra

The Star:

Caballo De Guerra

Daily Record:

Caballo De Guerra

The Sun:

Beyond The Verge