14:50 Musselburgh

Saturday 1 February 2025

All13:4214:1714:5015:2215:5716:27

bet365 Scottish Champion Chase (Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 5.71s

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Selected odds by:

Minella Drama^t⁵⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 150| CD

16/1

Smart performer who was given a well-judged ride when taking the Old Roan at Aintree in October. Ran poorly in the Peterborough Chase since, adding to what is starting to look like a patchy record, but he was a C&D winner on sole previous start here and he's certainly capable of a bold show.

Form: 372P-1P

The Big Chap^p³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: G Brouder⁽³⁾| T: P W Flynn| OR: 146

22/1

Successful at Limerick and Gowran during the autumn and ran a fine race to be third in a 19-runner listed handicap at Navan in December. However, he checked out rather tamely on his latest start and others look better treated.

Form: 14173P

Marble Sands³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Nick Slatter⁽³⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 143| CD

10/3

Useful hurdler who scored twice over fences last term and made a winning return in 4-runner listed race at Carlisle in November. Has followed that with solid placed efforts in valuable handicaps at Newcastle and Cheltenham, and he is likely to make his presence felt once again.

Form: P16-132

Corrigeen Rock³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 142| CD

14/1

Looked better than ever when winning this race off 3 lb higher 12 months ago but he has a bit to prove following a couple of very low-key efforts since returning to action in November.

Form: 1421-6P

Arizona Cardinal^t⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 141| D

22/1

Completed the hat-trick when landing the 24-runner Topham Handicap Chase at Aintree last spring. Some way below that level of form in 2 starts so far this season, though, and it's easy enough to look elsewhere on this occasion.

Form: P111-P8

Fidelio Vallis^p1³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Alice Stevens⁽³⁾| T: Harry Derham| OR: 140| CD

12/1

Resumed winning ways when outpointing Corrigeen Rock in C&D handicap last January. Little impact both subsequent starts under an inexperienced amateur but it would be no surprise to see him bounce back in first-time cheekpieces now returned to this course and reunited with Alice Stevens

Form: 2/241-P6

Saint Segal^t⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 137| D

7/1

Improved to win 6-runner handicap chase at Newbury (19.8f) 24 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Relished the switch to front-running tactics that day and while more will be needed up 8 lb in this tougher race, he has to enter calculations.

Form: 36-4751

Traprain Law^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: P W Wadge| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 137

14/1

Progressed into a useful chaser last term, winning twice and runner-up in a good-quality handicap at the Ayr Scottish Grand National meeting. Promising start to this season when third to Marble Sands at Carlisle but has failed to build on that in 2 subsequent appearances.

Form: 512-344

Sir Psycho^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 135

8/1

Made a successful reappearance at Ascot last season and runner-up 3 times since, including on his latest start at Ffos Las (2m) 3 weeks ago. Moving back up in trip won't be an issue but yard saddles a more appealing candidate in Fidelio Vallis.

Form: U42F-62

The Kalooki Kid⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 131| CD

2/1

Dual hurdles winner last season, including a novice event at this course, and confirmed promise of his reappearance/chase debut second at Ayr when readily going one better in a 19f Doncaster handicap in December. 7 lb rise fair enough and he should have more to offer in this sphere.

Form: 1485-21

Lieutenant Command^p⁴⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Harry Reed| T: T Reed| OR: 130

50/1

Bumper/hurdles and dual chase winner for Noel Meade in Ireland. Offered little starting out for this yard following a lengthy absence in November and while he stepped up on that when second at Carlisle next time, it remains to be see if he will be in the same form here.

Form: P16/0-P2

Kansas City Star^p,t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: James Bowen| T: Harry Derham| OR: 130

28/1

Cheekpieces back on when returning to form with a win in 7-runner handicap chase at Doncaster (19f) in November. However, he followed that with a poor effort at Ascot a fortnight ago and Fidelio Vallis is presumably the stable No 1.

Form: 1-0691P

Forecasts

The Kalooki Kid (2/1), Marble Sands (10/3), Saint Segal (7/1), Sir Psycho (8/1), Fidelio Vallis (12/1), Traprain Law (14/1), Corrigeen Rock (14/1), Minella Drama (16/1), The Big Chap (22/1), Arizona Cardinal (22/1), Kansas City Star (28/1), Lieutenant Command (50/1)

MARBLE SANDS was no match for Springwell Bay in a valuable Cheltenham handicap on New Year's Day but there was no disgrace in that and the 9-y-o, who was successful over C&D on his sole previous visit here 12 months ago, is taken to make it 2-2 at this course. There should be better to come from The Kalooki Kid and he is a much-respected main danger, while Fidelio Vallis, who looks the pick of the Harry Derham-trained trio, and Saint Segal are others to consider.