3.30pm Musselburgh Tips & Betting Preview 30/08/2017

A field of 10 go to post in this Class 4 handicap raced over 5f. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: ORIENT CLASS should relish being back down in Class and over a course and distance that he has won over in the past. Connor Murtagh is excellent value for seven pounds and he can land this prize at a tasty price. Royal Brave wasn’t beaten far in a much better race at Goodwood, he should be right in the mix along with Rosina who finally bounced back to form last time. If the cheekpieces work as well for her the second time around, she is another each way player.

1 ORIENT CLASS – C&D winner off a 3lb lower mark and he’s run well in Class 3 company lately. His run at Doncaster was disappointing last time out having never looked happy and the return to quicker ground and weaker company will help in this. Connor Murtagh claims an incredibly useful 7lbs which will help and he can get himself back on the winning track at this level.

2 ROYAL BRAVE – Was only beaten 2 lengths in a Class 2 Goodwood handicap earlier this month off a a pound higher mark. He finished fourth of 13 at Doncaster subsequently finishing ahead of Orient Class and he should be primed for another good run in this. He looks weighted up to his best but the drop in grade gives him a leading chance in this and he commands plenty of respect, not least as a C&D winner on this ground.

3 FUMBO JUMBO – Has won two of her 21 career starts, the last of those came over C&D back in June of last year. She’s run well for the Michael Dods stable this season with a host of placed efforts and this drop in grade should see her go close again. Callum Rodriguez claims a handy 5lbs off her back today but she still looks high in the weights and she’ll need to improve again.

4 ROSINA – Has been handed a reasonable 6lb rise in the weights for a decent Class 4 success at Ayr last time out. The first-time cheekpieces clearly had the desired effect that day and it’s no surprise to see them left on again in this. She remains relatively well-handicapped and the conditions should be in her favour so she warrants respect in this. The yard are operating with an 8% strike rate at present.

5 GAMESOME – Has won just one of his 29 starts and that came back in August 2013. He’s run with credit throughout his career and he’s finally begun to slip down the weights which has seen him post some decent efforts in stronger races than this. However, his overall record is incredibly off-putting and he can only be watched in this. Well-held with Rosina when the pair met last time out.

6 BOGART – Another runner seeking his first win in several years (last successful in 2013) but Kevin Ryan’s runner posted a good effort last time out. He finished second of 19 in this grade, beaten just 3/4 of a length and he’s clearly well-handicapped off a mark of 81. However, he has a habit of bumping into one or two improving sorts and he comes with strings attached in this. Wouldn’t be a surprise to see him score but others appear more reliable.

7 LYDIA’S PLACE – Closely tied-in with Economic Crisis on form and she beat that rival by half a length earlier this season. She was second off this mark last time out and conditions will suit here here although she looks vulnerable to a couple of rivals dropping in grade and this looks tough enough. She may be best watched today against some better sorts in opposition.

8 ECONOMIC CRISIS – Recorded two C&D successes last season in today’s conditions and that saw her shoot up to a mark in the high 70’s. She’s not been the same this season having failed to build upon a promising run on stable debut and she has questions to answer today. A mark of 70 leaves her well-treated on last year’s form but she doesn’t look like the same horse and is best watched here.

9 PEARL ACCLAIM – 3 wins from 54 starts doesn’t make for great reading and she looks up against it today. She was beaten 4 3/4 lengths at Haydock in a weaker race than this last time out and whilst one pound lower today, she looks up against it. She did win a C&D handicap off a mark of 85 but that came two years ago and she looks be quite inconsistent at present. Best watched in this.

10 KINLOCH PRIDE – Went on an excellent run earlier this season to score four times and record a second place finish from 5 starts. That saw his mark shoot up from 50 to a high of 68 and he’s been comfortably held most recently including over C&D last time out. This looks stronger than his last assignment and the handicapper looks to have caught up with him by now.