There’s an excellent card up at Musselburgh where Strait of Magellan is a fascinating debutant for the Nicky Richards stable, having previously being rated 82 on the flat with Michael Bell. The selection is respected on his hurdles debut but may struggle on the forecast testing conditions and preference lies instead with Lucinda Russell’s Chaz Michaels (12.10) under regular partner Dominic Fox. The selection is a point-to-point winner in his native Ireland and made a promising debut under rules when second in a Maiden Hurdle at Perth in July. He disappointed in a similar contest when last seen on good ground in August but should relish this afternoon’s stiffer test of stamina. Crockett is another making his hurdles debut and is respected after a trio of smart performances in bumpers last term.
The pair can double-up with previous course and distance winner Itstimeforapint (1.20) in the 3m Novices’ Handicap Chase. The selection has been well supported in the market for all three starts this term, backed into favouritism on his two previous starts in similarly contests earlier in the campaign at Wetherby, before coming good at the third time of asking last time out in convincing fashion. The 8-y-o stayed on strongly to win by a comfortable three lengths at the finish and is a confident selection to defy a 6lb rise at the weights.
Eight head to post for the feature Kilmany Cup, a handicap chase over the minimum trip, and Jack Steel (3.00) chanced to bounce back to form and seal a terrific afternoon for the Lucinda Russell yard. The selection made a winning debut over fences earlier in the campaign at Ayr and ran as if amiss when down the field on his next start in a competitive handicap chase when last seen at Doncaster in November. Richie McClernon remains in the plate and can hopefully sit in behind the likely pace-setting pair of Chestnut Ben and Blades Lad and use his extra stamina to out-stay his rivals dropping back in trip.
There’s racing from Ludlow where Champion Jockey elect Richard Johnson has four excellent chances and is an eye-catching booking aboard John Quinn’s L’Aigle Royal in the Handicap Hurdle over an extended three miles. The selection is potentially ahead of the handicapper but, isn’t sure to stay the trip in such testing conditions and is overlooked instead for Venetia Williams’ Monetary Fund (1.35) under Aidan Coleman. The well-bred son of Montjeu has twice won over the trip and should strip fitter for two recent outings after returning from an absence of over 400 days earlier in the autumn.
Venetia’s Azert de Coeur is an interesting runner on debut over fences in the Novices’ Handicap Chase over the minimum trip and could be potentially chucked-in from an opening mark of 116. He is best watched on this occasion however, with Clonacool (2.10) a confident selection to shed the maiden tag over fences under regular partner Joshua Moore. Stuart Edmunds’ 7-y-o has progressed in competitive handicap hurdles during the first half of the campaign and, after an excellent second behind Regal Encore on his chase debut last month at Plumpton, is a confident selection to make it second time lucky now returning to a right-handed track.
Trainer Rebecca Curtis boasts a terrific record with debutants from the pointing fields and Kit Casey (2.45) looks another excellent prospect for the yard on his debut under rules in the Maiden Hurdle over an extended two and a half miles. The selection won his sole point-to-point at Akseaton before subsequently changing hands for £16,000 at the sales in April and looks to have been found the ideal opportunity to score under Sean Bowen.
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