Promising jockey with 80% Musselburgh strike-rate rides two red-hot Monday fancies 🔥

Well, what is there to be said about the festive period? It was a week of scintillating action and with the New Year’s celebrations out of the way, it’s back to normal service on Monday. There’s no Grade 1s, but racing from Southwell, Lingfield, Musselburgh and Wolverhampton provide competitive action, and we’ll have horse racing tips for all four.

Musselburgh is the feature meeting and we’ll be watching Conner McCann very closely. Currently a ten-pound claimer, he’s marked himself out as a promising prospect, winning four of his five rides at Musselburgh this season. That equates to a level stakes profit of £14.62 and he rides two strong fancies on Monday.

The double pays 13-1 and you can find all our analysis of his chances below.

1.00 Musselburgh – Betway Heed Your Hunch Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

The first of his rides is aboard Diamond State, who arrives here chasing the hat-trick for the in-form Lucinda Russell stable. An eight-length scorer over two miles at Musselburgh in November, he followed up over course and distance last time. He won by less than a length, but given that he idled late, that effort can be upgraded.

A seven-pound rise is perhaps harsh on the face of it, but he’s totally unexposed at this trip and McCann seems to get on very well with him. Ground conditions are ideal for him and pitched in against rivals who don’t find winning easy, the hat-trick perhaps beckons.

2.30 Musselburgh – Betway Handicap Hurdle

She’s the early favourite, but caution should be advised in regards to Gemologist. McCann will need to be at his best, as this seven-year-old mare is a 38-race maiden overall, with 24 of those runs coming over hurdles. The pair partnered up for the first time cover course and distance last month, finishing a good second off two pounds lower.

That form is quite strong in the context of this race and she’ll struggle to find many better opportunities than this to open her account. She’ll enjoy conditions and has to be considered a danger as a result.

If you back any of our selections you can watch them live on the free Racing Post app or racingpost.com. Simply log in to one of your bookmaker accounts and click ‘Watch live’ on the racecards.