Musselburgh 2.30
By UK Flat / AW (Northern)
NORTH - Musselburgh 2.30 - Novice Handicap Hurdle - 1 mile 7 and 1/2 furlongs - 13 run - Soft
This is one of the easiest Tracks in the UK and therefore not much of an emphasis on stamina, having said that it is rarely genuinely Soft here, so it will sort out the proper NH types and also I do think that the AW Bends have merit in terms of safety but do affect the rhythm of horses as they change from one surface to another and you can often see them bumped along as a result.
Sunday Soldier is upped a stone for an impressive CD win last time and on overall form I'm not convinced it was that impressive a win to warrant a 14lbs rise. Uncle Arthur has solid claims but the one at the top end of the market I like most is WHITEHAVEN, this trip will be as far as I think this horse goes, it jumps adequately though, comes from the McCain yard that specialise in such types and the Champion Jockey Brian Hughes rides and sure to have the horse near the front and poised throughout.
Mr Rumbilicious won well at Cartmel where the Moffatt horses are always very strong and then Ran Out at Sedgefield, it'll be interesting to see how it runs here. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Noble Annys outran odds of 40/1 but I marginally prefer DOT COTTON and MILAJESS for a shrapnel bet. DOT COTTON drops in trip but has Course form and if they do go off too quickly and pay the price up the straight this is the one I'd most expect to make up late ground in to a place. MILAJESS is from the Hammond yard and ridden by the excellent Emma Smith-Chaston, no form yet in the UK but a couple of runs in Ireland at this sort of trip really caught me eye and suggest this one is overpriced too at 33/1 plus.
Tips (1) Whitehaven / (2s) Dot Cotton / (3s) Milajess