February 15 / 16.50 Musselburgh

16.50

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3696.7
  • 2m 3f 171y
  • Class 5
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain and snow

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.20

Form: -20810 CD

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Three-time winner, most recently at Ayr (2m3f) on penultimate start; however, by no means certain to repeat that form, being far from consistent otherwise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

13th May 2026

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

17:25 Perth

Beat The Retreat

11st 8lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Won two of his last four, accounting for Snow Dragon at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft; from 4lb lower) in February; the snag is that the other two efforts were laboured ones, beaten 28l into fourth over 2m here (good) three weeks ago; this longer trip can assist.

8/1

4th

2

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Beat The Retreat

11st 6lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Inconsistent but won at Ayr (2m3f, heavy) in December and returned to form to win at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft) in February on his latest start; ran well on good ground here last May and it's possible he'll cope with the drop back in trip; he can be in the shake-up if on another going day.

7/1

1st

5

15th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 5

16:50 Musselburgh

Beat The Retreat

11st 2lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Three-time winner, most recently at Ayr (2m3f) on penultimate start; however, by no means certain to repeat that form, being far from consistent otherwise.

12/1

Form: 6-3334

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Eight-race maiden who has consistent form figures, including over C&D, this season; reasonably solid but chance of winning may depend on whether he's able to show better progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:45 Newcastle

Snow Dragon

11st 4lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Fourth to Parish Star over C&D (heavy; beaten 13l) in January and went closer (runner-up) in a five-runner affair at Musselburgh subsequently; usual 10lb claimer Gregor Walkingshaw retains the ride; can added cheekpieces make a difference?

4/1

2nd

4

15th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 5

16:50 Musselburgh

Snow Dragon

11st 4lb

J: Gregor Walkingshaw

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Eight-race maiden who has consistent form figures, including over C&D, this season; reasonably solid but chance of winning may depend on whether he's able to show better progress.

6/1

4th

4

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

16:10 Newcastle

Snow Dragon

11st 8lb

J: Gregor Walkingshaw

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Yet to win in seven runs over hurdles; fair third at Musselburgh in November (2m4f, good to soft) but not so good over same C&D on soft ground last time; may fare better here.

4/1

Form: 639573 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish mare whose record is only 1-18; however, has shaped with promise in two starts for new yard, third in big field at Newcastle (2m4f) latest; possibilities if building on that effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

28th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

19:00 Market Rasen

Cher Tara

11st 6lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Daragh Bourke

Didn't run badly when fifth of eight at Kelso (2m5f, good) three weeks ago and continues to slip down the weights but has modest 2-21 strike-rate over hurdles; others appeal more.

7/1

5th

7

6th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:25 Kelso

Cher Tara

11st 5lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Daragh Bourke

Won a Down Royal handicap in March 2025 for Gordon Elliott (2m4f, good); best run for present yard when third at Newcastle in January (2m4f, good to soft) but hasn't fared as well since.

16/1

8th

7

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:07 Newcastle

Cher Tara

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Daragh Bourke

On a losing sequence but in good form for her current yard until coming in a never-dangerous sixth in 2m4f Musselburgh handicap 22 days ago; she can bounce back off a slipping mark.

14/1

Form: -46422

Last run: 5 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Two Flat wins; 0-6 over hurdles but beaten only a head at Ayr (2m4f) the last twice, suggesting there's an ordinary handicap in him; good chance turned out quickly (likely to go up in weights once reassessed).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

13th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:55 Perth

Velvet Vulcan

10st 9lb

J: William Maggs

T: R Mike Smith

Twice narrowly beaten at Ayr (2m4f, soft) in the winter but he has struggled to get competitive at Musselburgh, Ayr and here in his last three starts; mark is manageable and trainer won a division of this last year with Follow Charlie but he needs a revival in fortunes.

12/1

6th

9

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:25 Perth

Velvet Vulcan

10st 6lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: R Mike Smith

Dual Flat winner who showed best hurdles form when going very close at Ayr (2m4f, soft) in January/February, latterly to The Coffey Boy; does need to shrug off two lesser runs since, though.

11/1

6th

5

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:50 Ayr

Velvet Vulcan

10st 12lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

Dual Flat winner who showed best hurdles form when going very close at Ayr (2m4f, soft) in January/February and ties in with The Coffey Boy on the latter effort; had excuses (unsuited by the track and/or removal of hood) at Musselburgh since; has been taking a good hold and may benefit from this drop back in trip; possibilities.

5/1

Form: -51251 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Perhaps found 1m7f too sharp at Musselburgh (behind Gemini Man) in December; in good form otherwise of late and proved suited by 2m4f when scoring at Sedgefield most recently; unexposed at this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:07 Newcastle

National Question

11st 1lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Adam Nicol

Got back on the up with a third success of the season in 2m1f handicap at Carlisle 20 days ago; up another 4lb but this course winner is a likely player once more for his in-form yard.

100/30

1st

9

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

14:45 Carlisle

National Question

10st 11lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Adam Nicol

Ran no race last time at Musselburgh (soft) but had been in a good run of form and this drier surface should work in his favour.

13/2

Non-runners

Gemini Man, Gonnino

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.30
Straight Forecast £19.90
Trifecta £53.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

National Question

RP RATINGS:

Snow Dragon

POSTDATA:

Gemini Man

D Express:

Cher Tara

Daily Mirror:

Beat The Retreat

TOPSPEED:

Velvet Vulcan

The Times:

Snow Dragon

Telegraph:

National Question

The Star:

National Question

Daily Record:

National Question

The Sun:

Gemini Man