3.30pm Musselburgh Tips & Betting Preview 31/08/2017

A field of six go to post for the fifth race of the day at Musselburgh on Thursday, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Fire Leopard returned to from yesterday when second at Catterick, but this is a very quick turnaround and she was beaten a long way on that occasion. ERINYES won a maiden on her second start before being pitched into Listed company where she finished eleventh. She now makes her handicap debut off a mark of 77 which looks extremely lenient and the addition of the cheekpieces should eek out further improvement. Archie Watson’s string continues in brilliant form and she should prove too strong for this class.

1 LIVELLA FELLA – Reliable four year old for Keith Dalgleish who doesn’t win very often but usually finds his way to the placings. That said, he does have something to prove at this distance as his other attempts at 1m 4f+ have been less than fruitful. He looked very one paced on his previous attempts and although he’s capable off this mark, he’s likely to find at least one of these too good on the day.

2 WOR LASS – Nine year old veteran who is now two pounds below her last winning mark, though she hasn’t been at her best this term and does have something to prove for Donald Whillans. She travelled well at Carlisle on her latest start before weakening late on and this drop back in trip does give home for better. The in form Rowan Scott takes five pounds off her back and a big run looks to be inbound.

3 ERINYES – Broke her maiden at the second attempt with a comfortable success before finishing eleventh in a Listed race at Newmarket three weeks ago. She makes her handicap debut now off a mark of 77 which makes her very interesting and the cheekpieces go on to further her chances. Archie Watson’s runners continue to run in blinding form and with conditions fine, she looks set for a big run as she could be much too strong for this class.

4 FIRE LEOPARD – Won her first race at the fifth attempt when scorching clear to win a race at Ripon, though that form was let down by the second since then. She was well beaten on her latest start at Ripon when a well backed 11/8 favourite, bouncing back yesterday when second at Catterick. She was however still beaten a long way and this is a very quick turnaround for her, so it’s not hard to look elsewhere.

5 BONNIE ARLENE – Very consistent daughter of Excelebration for Mark Johnston who is handicapped to her best at present but is still likely a key player in this contest. She won a Class 5 event at Sandown one month ago off a four pound lower mark but she was nine lengths behind Fire Leopard on her latest start at Ripon. That rival disappointed off her new mark though and she meets her again on much better terms. She is a likely forecast contender but she looks vulnerable for win purposes against some potentially well handicapped sorts.

6 GOLD CHAIN – Seven year old mare who is better known for her hurdling exploits but she is a capable flat runner when the trip is right, which isn’t the case today. She tends to race very lazily before rallying to come with a strong late challenge, but that is at trips at two miles plus. She will need much further to show her best and with a strong pace far from guaranteed, others are readily preferred.