mid-division, ridden and weakened from 4 out
mid-division, hampered and unseated rider bend after 3rd
tracked clear leader from 3rd, hit 7th, ridden and weakened from 8th
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression
towards rear, unseated rider 2nd
led and soon clear, 30 lengths clear 4 out, unextended
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, gradually weakened
always towards rear, beaten and pulled up before 3 out
always behind
chased clear winner until broke down and fell on bend after 3rd
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon one pace
mid-division until weakened from 8th
mid-division, ridden and weakened from approaching 3 out
mid-division, hit 3rd, ridden from approaching 3 out, gradually weakened
mid-division, ridden and went 2nd 3 out, no chance with winner
A competitive handicap hurdle to solve and VIPER is a tentative selection to win it; Motive, Speed Up and Tension Point are others that make the shortlist. Viper has put together two impressive front running performances on the flat on his last two starts and given his improvement on the flat, it could be that off a mark of 113, he could be well handicapped. Front running tactics can often be the winning of races at Musselburgh and his rivals could face a stiff task in keeping tabs on him. Motive lacks the benefit of a recent outing but has a profile which gives him scope for improvement while Speed Up is similar to Motive in that he lacks a recent pipeopener. Stepping up to 2m 4f should suit him although this yard's runners do normally require a runner. Tension Point showed good battling qualities to win at Sedgefield last time out while Regent's Secret and Doris's Gift are two others with claims in a wide open heat. Viper can be expected to trail blaze from the outset and might take some catching.
Bogus Dreams (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 6th and no extra entering straight, soon weakened, 12th of 18, 29l behind Lukie Victor (10-10) at Naas 2m hcp hdl 0-123 sft in Nov.
Tension Point 18-1 (10-4) Held up mid-division, headway 3 out, led approaching last, stayed on well flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov beating Leac An Scail (10-9) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Motive (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Held up, smooth headway approaching 3 out, led next, ran on well from last, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in May beating Springvic (10-5) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Texas Holdem (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, weakened approaching 2 out, last of 18, well behind Issaquah (9-7) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Regent's Secret (USA) 12-1 (10-10) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on to go 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Amazing King (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Nov.
Viper 5-1 (11-6) Led and soon clear, hit 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 35l behind Jazz Scene (11-8) at N Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Jul.
Speed Up (FR) 10-3fav (10-12) Towards rear, smooth headway to track leaders 3 out, ridden next, every chance last, no extra flat, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind Mizen Raven (10-12) at Perth 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Elaala (USA) 14-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, headway 5th, led 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra, 4th of 13, 3 1/2l behind First Point (11-5) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Oct.
Industrial Star (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Mid-division when blundered and unseated rider at the 5th in race won by Bow School (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Nov, 13 ran.
Backbeat (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) Soon led, mistake 6th, soon headed, driven and weakened from 3 out, last of 15, 41l behind Warsaw Pact (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Nov.
Doris's Gift 2-1fav (11-2) Chased leaders until weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 11, 15l behind That Look (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in May.
Tiger King (GER) 12-1 (9-13) Held up, weakened approaching 7th, 10th of 18, 32l behind Issaquah (9-7) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Clueless 12-1 (10-13) Prominent, mistake 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on well flat, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Run Forest Run (10-9) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Coolcomin (IRE) (12-0) 4th of 8, well behind Fortis Et Fidelis (12-0) at Ballinrobe 3m ire ptp hvy in Oct.
Kyber 13-8fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, close up when fell in race won by Commercial Express (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m ldy hcp hdl (5) gs in Feb '07, 10 ran.
