4.00pm Musselburgh Tips & Betting Preview 25/08/2016

The feature race on Thursday’s Musselburgh card is a Class 3 handicap over 1m. Our betting tips focus on a well-handicapped class-dropper. Read the race preview for further details.

IN SUMMARY: The 9yo, Ginger Jack, evidently still has fire in his belly and can make his presence felt but the suggestion is WHITMAN, who has been finding things tough in valuable events this summer but is in much calmer waters here and can capitalise on some help from the handicapper. Godolphin cast-off Hibou has started off for his new stable with two quiet runs on softish ground but will probably be better suited by today’s conditions and there’s every chance he’ll get his career back on track soon. Ellaal has been in sparkling form this summer but is surely too high in the weights now.

1 Jacbequick – Produced a new career-best performance to win by 4l at Beverley (7.5f, good to firm) last month but went up 8lb for that and his seventh at Ripon (1m, good) 12 days ago, though perfectly respectable, suggests the handicapper is wearing the trousers now.

2 Ginger Jack – Getting long in the tooth now but wasn’t far off his career-best form when scoring at Thirsk (1m, good) last month and was short of room in the closing stages when fourth in a big field at Ripon (1m, good) on latest outing; expected to be in the thick of things again.

3 Mont Ras – Very useful in his prime but hasn’t won since landing a valuable handicap at Meydan in February 2014; started off for new stable with some decent AW runs in early 2016 but recent turf form is uninspiring and others have more appealing profiles.

4 Whitman – Comes here with a bit to prove after struggling to land a significant blow in good-quality handicaps on last four outings but certainly wasn’t disgraced when midfield in very valuable 7f event at Ascot three starts ago; sure to appreciate today’s drop in class and now 4lb lower than when going close at Ayr (1m, good to firm) in June.

5 Argaki – Won four times at around 1m last year but been unfancied and well beaten on both starts this year, the more recent at Carlisle in June; remains on a fairly tough mark and has some searching questions to answer at present.

6 Ellaal – Had looked fully exposed at the age of seven but has been in excellent form lately, winning here (1m1f, good) and at Newmarket (1m, good to firm); up in class today and latest 7lb rise will probably be tough to swallow but there’s every chance he’ll give another good account.

7 Gworn – Disappointed at Ayr on latest outing but had reached the frame there five consecutive times beforehand (1m-1m2f) and recent 2lb drop in the weights gives him some wiggle room; can’t be ignored but would make more appeal on slower ground.

8 Avenue Of Stars – 3yo who still has fairly low mileage but is best known for his exploits as a sprinter; seemed to cope with step up to 7f when respectable fifth at Ayr last month but doesn’t look obviously handicapped and stamina for today’s trip has to be taken on trust.

9 Invermere – Has remained in good form since gaining narrow-margin win at Catterick (7f, good to firm) in June and ought to run well here but recent 2lb nudge up the weights for finishing third at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) might be enough to leave her vulnerable.

10 Hibou – Won 1m Polytrack maiden for Godolphin last summer but was sold for £22,000 in May and both starts for his new stable this season have been disappointing; will probably be better suited by the faster ground here, though, and no surprise if he comes good for Iain Jardine soon.

myracing Forecast Prices:3/1 Ginger Jack, 5/1 Whitman, 6/1 Ellaal, Gworn, Invermere, 8/1 Hibou, 12/1 Jacbequick, 14/1 Mont Ras, Avenue Of Stars, 25/1 Argaki