2.50pm Musselburgh Tips & Betting Preview 16/10/2017

2.50pm Musselburgh tips for Monday’s Class 2 race. A strong quality seven furlong handicap for a Monday afternoon with almost £13,000 on offer to the winner. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis.

IN SUMMARY: FAWAAREQ was travelling all over them at Ascot last time before a very weak finishing effort. The absence since suggests that all was not right on that occasion, he remains capable of better. Get Knotted has run well this season, with the return to this trip a positive having been running over six furlongs of late. Muntadab and Big Tour are others to consider with each way chances in a smart and competitive handicap.

1 VON BLUCHER – Has kept warm company at this trip so far in 2017, including when runner-up in a Listed race last time out. Only a pound better off with Get Knotted for a two and a quarter length beating in July, work to do to get his head in front.

2 GET KNOTTED – Won over this trip on good to soft in July, the return to these conditions will suit him better than six on heavy of late. Has plenty of placed form from similar marks so no reason to think he won’t be in the frame.

3 MUNTADAB – Step back up to this trip suited when getting his head back in front at Haydock in September. He rarely runs a bad race with a little cut in the ground, with placed form in the past in the late 90’s, should be in the mix once more.

4 MASHAM STAR – Heavy campaign, he was stuck a little on a wing when underperforming last time. The majority of his better form on the turf has come over a mile so he may find a few with too many gears in the final furlong.

5 ROBERO – Steadily progressive in the early part of the season, he has been disappointing the last twice. He was in the wrong group last time over a stiffer seven. This track should suit if that can be forgiven.

6 BIG TOUR – Justified short odds the last twice over this trip in lesser company. Shapes as if he may be capable of defying this hike in the weights and stepping up in class for all that he clearly needs more in a far deeper contest to notch the hat-trick.

7 FAWAAREQ – Twice placed from a pound higher already this season, he has been absent since a disappointing finishing effort last time out. The 79 day break since suggests all was not right on that occasion, he is well worth another chance.

8 LUALIWA – Progressed more than a stone this season, making most in his wins. That might be a difficult proposition with a number of others who like to push the pace along here however. Each way shout if left alone on the front end with potential for further to come.

9 RIGHT TOUCH – Dropped to a very tempting mark this season having kept deep company. This is slightly easier with more of his form having come over seven furlongs than the six he has run over of late. Needs to come back to his best to win.

10 HEAVEN’S GUEST – Without a win since July 2015, he is better off at the weights for beating Lualiwa at Ascot two starts back. that gives him a solid each way chance but so much of his best form has come on a stiff, straight track that this course is a slight concern.

11 THEODORICO – A three time winner this season, he is more than a stone above that first score. Happier at a lower level than this, he needs others to underperform if he is to figure on this occasion.

12 LAT HAWILL – Placed over this course and distance from six pounds higher in April. He has run well sporadically since, but his lack of consistency has seen his mark fall. Has a career low mark now but needs the ground to dry out a little more.