Back again to Musselburgh with Paper Roses

Not much fortune at Musselburgh on Wednesday with a couple of horses we know are far better than recent form would suggest.
Big Bad Dream unseated Callum at the last (jumped right and made a mistake) but was out of contention in 6th or 7th at the time. Probably be tried in blinkers next time, and could perhaps be suited by better ground.
Paper Promise travelled well to 4 out and was tracking the leading group turning in, but could find little when asked for more effort and faded into 5th.

Onto Day 2 of the 2-day fixture at the East Lothian venue and just 33 runners all told for the 6 races at this 'extra additional meeting' (© Robert Hogarth).
Paper Roses faces just 3 opponents in the 2m 4f novices' handicap hurdle at 2.42.

Despite several fine performances in her career, the 9 year old mare remains a maiden and the consistency that has marked her career has not really been that evident in her two runs this season.
The same comment could be made for Lucinda's Methodtothemadness who won a novice hurdle in October but has been below that form in two subsequent handicap hurdles. Maybe a little high in the ratings but like our mare the talent is there though and a first-time tongue tie may help.
Thomson runs his progressive hurdler Overcourt and this first time handicapper has been allocated OR110 through finishing 3rd to the OR135 rated Cheddleton last time.
The other first time handicapper is Tim Vaughan's traveller from Wales, Iona Lad. Rated OR106, based on a couple of fast ground novice hurdle runs in the summer, this looks on the high side on what has been achieved and the testing ground is another imponderable.

Small fields can lead to a tactical race but Methodtothemadness has raced prominently and Overcourt could press, so it may pay to sit off the pace a little......

 
Paper Roses (Leah)