Musselburgh Friday

....sigh....oh boy.......

That veritable oasis in the desert (are you sure about that analogy? - ed) Musselburgh, currently report no more than a precautionary inspection at 8.00 am on Friday morning ahead of a 7-race card starting at 12.50.
Owner Ian Aitken has requested the attendance at this inspection of a locally based 'friend of the stable' who may be able to plan a daily cycle exercise around this venue. Maybe exert some influence upon the outcome and such like, you know....
Desperate times give rise to desperate measures........but sadly the request was turned down. Something along the lines of 'couldn't cycle to the end of the street, far less the East Lothian coast in these conditions'.

That leaves refreshing 'Twitter' then, as the early morning activity.

Ian, of course, along with John, Greg and Wee Davie make up TD9 Racing whose Lady Villanelle looks to run in that first race, a 2 mile (well, 1m7½f before any rail movements) mares novice hurdle. 10 runners and there will be several looking to the future with handicapping in mind.
There is quite a disparity in rating attributed to Lady Villanelle after her debut hurdling victory at Hexham in November between the leaders in form analysis. Racing Post RPR of 96, Timeform 117p. Mmmnn.....guess we'll learn more post race.

Thompson's Little Mo is also a Hexham debut hurdle winner and there may not be much to choose between these local rivals in this race. We'd like to think that our mare holds more scope for improvement being a 6 year old. Both carrying a 7lb penalty for winning, not to be ignored in calculations......

The two at the top of the market make some appeal, especially from ability shown on the level. Skelton makes the long journey with hurdle debutant Craylands (first run after wind op, hood applied). With a Flat Rating of 80+, you'd have to take her jumping on trust. May be the type to be suited by a sound surface but unusually for Musselburgh, the advance going is soft.

The other market pick is Sashenka, also an 80+ Flat performer. Very admirable and consistent on the level, her opening effort over timber was an impressive 2nd place behind subsequent scorer Little River Bay. A repeat of that form would be hard to beat but there is a concern given she broke a blood vessel next time (just 25 days ago).

Nicky Richard's bumper winner Kitty Hall didn't run as well as you'd have expected on hurdling debut and drops back ½ mile here. Could run well.
Kinneston Nick runs a couple with ex French Cancan, an Al Namix mare from a very fine French NH family (especially when progeny are trained in Scotland), looking interesting.

For Dodlands though, Callum Bewley is again in the saddle. We think highly of Lady Villanelle but lack of recent opportunities has forced our hand in running here over a course and distance that wouldn't be playing to her strengths.

Lady Villanelle

And so to the bumper, the last on the day at 4.05.

13 runners with the Mousetrap Racing's Shoeshine Boy making his debut. This is a well bred sort but at this stage of his career wouldn't be the fastest in the yard. Likeable though. Mark this down as one for experience.

McCain's Fruit N Nut is bred from an American flat family but did show some jumping promise with a second in an Irish Point. Obtained a reasonable rating that day so could go well.
Home Run (Nicky - Brian) is bred to win a Derby so whether he is up to 2 miles over a cold, seaside track in January will be open to question......

Mark Walford's well bred Gentlewave gelding Jante Law would come into contention if finding some improvement (not unrealistic) from his debut run a couple of months ago.
Moonlight Beam was well fancied and ran well too on debut when 3rd to a couple of good horses over course and distance a month ago.

Normally, the quartet covered so far would represent the main protagonists of a Musselburgh bumper, but this is a very hot event. More to consider......

Lucinda debuts a full brother to high class chaser Invitation Only for Gerry McGladery in Songofthelark, Laura Morgan brings up her Irish Point runner up Supreme Yeats who showed a similar level of form to Fruit N Nut but is more traditionally NH bred. From a bumper winning family and some high class jumpers too (could go close to winning).
Kinneston Nick's Upandatit is reportedly well regarded. Placed in Points, tongue tied / hooded first time, he has held novice hurdle entries so may be one to develop when jumping rather than here.
Annies Regatta is interesting in that he is Borders bred/owned/trained - by three different parties. Now, not even we can claim that accolade......

Which brings us neatly to the Borders owned - but sadly not trained - Arthurs Seat has the best form on view. He's been 2nd and 1st in junior bumpers over a few furlongs shorter than today's trip. Not sure to stay much beyond 2 miles on pedigree, he may just be found out in a strongly run race.

A cracker of a race. Supreme Yeats may spring a minor surprise.
Shoeshine Boy will have Blair Campbell in the saddle and good luck to him and also to Mouse, Fozo and their Mousetrap cohorts.

Shoeshine Boy

Earlier this week our two runners at Ayr didn't really threaten the leaders.

Paper Promise was held up as planned but didn't make any progress from 4 out and was soon pulled up.
Stolen Money race prominently but as we feared was outpaced in the closing stages. Still more to come but is crying out for an extended trip. He should be handicapped soon, which will open up more opportunities.