WHILE the Scots will be celebrating the arrival of another year at Musselburgh tomorrow in their usual boisterous way, they may also have to drown their sorrows at the prospect of one of their big prizes ending up in Wales.
Phidippides makes the long haul from Evan Williams’ stable in the Vale Of Glamorgan to contest the Honest Toun Handicap Chase and, though he does not cross the border without any risks attached, he has the raw ability to win a handicap like this.
His trainer thinks the world of him and is hoping the gelding will get his career back on track after falling at Wetherby on his reappearance. He was still going well when coming to grief six out.
This has been his problem. His jumping let him down a bit last season when he made the frame in all four starts and landed a beginners’ chase at Ludlow.
His presence at Musselburgh will have a lot to do with conditions as his sire’s influence points to the requirement of better ground.
Quito Du Tresor did us a huge favour when scoring at 20-1 at Ascot when the cheekpieces were back on and brought about the necessary improvement.
The handicapper’s response will now make life much more difficult for the time being and I prefer the claims of Quicuyo, who rallied gamely to beat Kings Grey at Doncaster to continue his upward curve.
Northumberland trainer Michael Smith has decided to run Makbullet in the valuable Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle in preference to the earlier novices’ hurdle. The five-year-old thoroughly deserves to get his head in front after excellent placed efforts, notably when just losing out to Alsahill by a nose on his last visit.
He ought to find an opening soon but this looks a tough assignment.
He has to carry 7lb more than his official mark, which is not ideal, though it would not surprise me to see him being in the thick of things at the business end.
Alsahil is also out of the handicap but meets him on the same terms and there should not be much between them.
However, the winner is likely to come from the other end of the handicap in the shape of Marsh Warbler.
This will not be as competitive as The Ladbroke where he ran a blinder in fifth. He is an out-and-out galloper who loves to dictate and Musselburgh looks a perfect playing field for his style of running.
Setting only a modest pace at Ascot, he may have fared better by upping the tempo and it will be a case of catch-me-if-you-can on this much sharper circuit.
The booking of Lucy Alexander, who only turned professional in September but has already made a big impression, will take an invaluable 7lb off of his back.
Presque Perdre can make it third time lucky over fences in the beginners’ chase at Catterick.
It was over the course where he made his chasing debut and, apart from one mistake, he jumped like an old hand to finish a satisfactory fourth.
He improved on that next time at Newcastle but could not cope with Blenheim Brook who had more experience of fences. It looks as though Storming Gale is the only one to worry about this time.
