Racecards
12:30 Musselburgh
Betway First Foot Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 1m 7f 124y
- Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £9,300 added
- Winner: £4,684
- 2nd: £2,158
- 3rd: £1,078
- 4th: £540
- Form 12
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey B S Hughes
chased leader, pushed along to keep pace 3 out, challenged leader 2 out but soon outpaced, kept on same pace from last, lost 2nd close home
- Form 5331
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer Ruth Jefferson
- Jockey Jamie Hamilton
made all, increased tempo home turn, pressed 2 out, few lengths clear last, kept on well flat, readily
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Bryony Frost
held up, pushed along and struggling home turn, pulled up before 2 out
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J C McConnell
- Jockey S D Torrens
held up, pulled hard early, pushed along from 4 out, not fluent 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 5
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer I Jardine
- Jockey Alan Doyle
always towards rear, struggling when pulled up after 4 out
- Form 54
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer I Jardine
- Jockey C O'Farrell
chased leader, pushed along from 4 out towards rear, plugged on from 2 out, stayed on well from last, snatched 2nd close home
Verdict
Meritorious didn’t look an easy ride on the Flat when trained by John Gosden but did win over 1m4f on soft going at Newmarket and a switch to hurdling may improve his demeanour. His yard won this in both 2019 and 2020. Collingham was well ahead of Oot Ma Way when second to Skycutter over track and trip last month but, like the exposed Catterick winner Inca Prince, has a penalty to carry. French import INDIVIDUALISTE looked a stayer in the making on the Flat in the spring and will have had plenty of schooling over hurdles since joining Paul Nicholls’ yard.
Formwatch
Collingham (GER) 3-1 (11-3) Chased clear winner, ridden and closed 2 out, kept on one pace run in, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Skycutter (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m (2) gs in Dec.
Inca Prince (IRE) 85-40fav (10-12) Raced keenly, made all, clear when wandered into 3rd, ridden out, unchallenged, won at Catterick 2m (4) gs in Dec beating Monsieur Pom Pom (10-12) by 6 1/2l, 13 ran.
Individualiste (FR) (9-2) 3rd of 14, 9l behind Agent Empire (9-2) at Chateaubriant 1m 5f mdn stks in May.
Meritorious 11-4 (9-7) Keen tracked leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, edged right over 1f out, ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (4) sft in May beating Baileys Derbyday (9-1) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Push For Sixty 66-1 (10-12) Keen, raced in last, pushed along home turn, lost touch soon after, 5th of 6, dist behind Collingham (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m mdn (4) gs in Nov.
Oot Ma Way (FR) 40-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakening when mistake next, tailed off, 4th of 6, 35 1/2l behind Skycutter (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m (2) gs in Dec.