Jumps Racing - Monday 5th December

[Bathtime For Rupert]

2.20 Musselburgh - 3pts win Gordonsville @ 5/1 (Boyles) I think 5/1 about this horse is a fine price, even in this fairly competitive handicap hurdle. A useful 83 rated stayer on the flat, Gordonsville isn't the quickest, so a hurdling career could be the making of him (even moreso). He lacks that real turn of pace even in staying races. Last time out at Dundalk, for example, he made good headway to challenge 2f out or so before being outpaced into a sound 4th. However, the run showed he was still in form, and a return to hurdling can see him return to the winners enclosure. He has run three times over hurdles, with his debut coming at Musselburgh. He ran a sound race over 2 miles to be 3rd of ten behind the very useful Ascendant. He still looked to need the experience when returning to the discipline over a year later at Perth. He ran keen over the 2m5f trip and made mistakes. They took their toll and he was a disappointing 6th in the end. However, the race did work out well with the hot favourite scooting in by 14l and the runner-up hacking up next time. He's remained in good form since including a 3rd in the Cesarewitch trial. He managed to get his head in front for the first time over hurdles at the third time of asking, rallying having been outpaced to score over the 2 mile trip from a subsequent winner. 2 miles over hurdles was always likely to be a bit short given he stays that far at least on the level. That win was also at Musselburgh and he does enjoy the Scottish venue, winning 3 of his 5 career successes here. That's obviously a plus that he runs here again and is up in trip to 2m4f. He'll hopefully settle better than at Perth, and if he does, it should unlock some more ability over the obstacles. His mark of 118 doesn't look restrictive to me - especially at this trip, and I can't really see a bad run coming from him unless perhaps the rain pours (not out of the question). Even still, he's no forlorn hope on soft ground. Chester Lad must be respected having bounced back to form for his new yard, but he perhaps had the run of the race last time before faltering late on (possibly lacking in race fitness), and I prefer the Jim Goldie trained individual. He should get it run to suit and his finishing effort is likely to be stronger in this type of race than a 2 mile flat contest! I'm sure there's more to come from him, and hopefully today will show that. 2.40 Plumpton - 2pts win Marju King @ 13/2 (Bet365) This is a really poor race, and I think the relatively unexposed Marju King can take advantage. He's showed signs that he can be competitive in races such as this in his hurdling career to date. It is obvious that he was never going to cut any ice really at novice level, given that a low level handicapper is going to be his game, so he can be forgiven for not showing a huge amount previously. He finished his races off fairly enough to give some hope, however. He stayed on over c&d to be beaten a semi-respectable 23l 6th on his second hurdling start, before being given no chance sent to a listed race at Kempton next time out. Again, he finished moderately well. He wasn't fluent and was keen over 2m4f next time, again in a decent novice race, but finally there was much more to like when sent handicapping for the first time at Hereford. He stayed on quite nicely to finish 6th - 8 lengths off the winner in a race a bit better than the one he contests today. Factoring in the fact he hung left around the right-handed track late on especially, and the fact he made an error 2 or 3 flights from home, it wasn't a bad effort at all. He was brought down at the 2nd last time but a return to the form of his previous run, now going left-handed in a weak race at a course he ran respectably at before, will give him a sound chance here. He's only 5 and is improving slowly over time, and this 0-95 race is very average. The favourite has an absence to overcome and I'm not mad about the Plumpton specialists - especially Just Beware on this ground. I definitely think Marju King has one of these races in him, and the potentially burdening 11-11 on the soft ground is eased by 5lbs due to Kielan Woods' claim. I think he'll go well.

[mileni4uk]

Re: Jumps Racing - Monday 5th December Musselburgh 2.20 Chester Lad 2pt EW - 11/4 Boyle Lads Kicked for home at Carlisle and was done in the final 50 yards, but off same mark I expect him to be very competitive. Used to be a lot higher in the past and now joined a top yard, who is in great form. Trip will suit and many are out of form in the race. Plumpton 2.40 Mix N Match 0.75pt EW - 8/1 Bet365 3lb lower than his last winning mark and has changed stables. Very good claimer on board and this is a very weak race. Fav is unproven on the ground and few others are badly out of form. Worth a shot at the price I reckon.