MUSSELBURGH - 01Mar09

[PL2008]

2:30 MUSSELBURGH Caravel 4-5 RPF WIN Won LTO. Course and Distance winner (LTO). No other trainer or jockey in this race have more experience here than J Howard Johnson and Denis O'regan. Johnson is 37 from 153 the past 5 seasons. O'regan is 17 from 23 the past 5 seasons. Owner Andrea & Graham Wylie usually do well here. 7 wins from 16 hurdlers this season. Caravel is forecasted odds-on by the Racing Post while Wylies other three are priced 8 to 18. 10 pts

[diamond1924]

Re: MUSSELBURGH - 01Mar09 I just went and spent half an hour doing a belt and braces preview of this meeting and lost it due to a log in problem. That'll teach me to copy before posting! I might be going today for for some fresh air and chill out, so a brief review of my tentative selections; 2.30 Caravel; Should have too much same reasons as above post, winning time/margin LTO suggests he should have enough in hand to repeat. 3.00 Za Beau E/W: Top 2 in weights have trouble finding enough to win at these weights, much depends on whether Johnny Roche comes back in prime form. 3.30 Jo Jo Star e/w: Running consistently, Calcutta Cup up another 7lbs might just be too much, same with Strobe. Top 2 in weights at mercy of handicapper. 4.00 Festival King: Improving, up a fair hike but gets trip. Percutant and singhalong were 1/2 recently over CD but both are up a bit too, Percutant being more severely hit so placings could be closer. I'll stick with Timmy here on FK. 4.30 Stravaigin: Jim Goldie does well here, Stravaigin is on a winnable mark, has won over the distance and has a valuable 5lb claim from the excellent Campbell Gilles. Snowy is getting on a bit, would have romped this a couple of years ago but a still a solid e/w proposition. 5.00 Alvarado: Weighted to reverse placings with Hunters Belt, though can't write off Hillview Boy either. J Howard J's should be good enough though. 4.30