Today's Racing - 11th Feb 2012

With a clear run of fixtures over the Christmas break, hopes were beginning to rise that we could have the first full jumps season in a good few years but sadly a winter cold snap has seen some excellent cards be abandoned, including Newbury’s Super Saturday.

During these circumstances the BHA should be applauded for rearranging the date quickly and getting possible TV interest at the same time, while Musselbrugh’s staff should get a big pat on the back for being able to get the meeting on – all being well on Saturday.

Indeed this itself is actually a rescheduled meeting, with the Scottish Country Hurdle headlining Scotland’s very own trials day. It’s a hugely competitive event for the money - reduced to just £10,000 - but it might be worth having an interest on Ubi Ace (above left) being able to grab his third win of the season.

Useful enough on the flat this summer, his reappearance romp in November at Wetherby suggested he could be an improver this season and he proved that when defying a 10lbs rise to strike at Sandown in a competitive handicap hurdle.

Some would say that he ran like a horse under the grip of the handicapper when third at Newbury last time but that race seemed at least as competitive as this one (the winner has since won again and was rated 161 at the time, while the fourth was then third in a Grade 2 for Mares) and there’s no reason why he can’t go on and win again.

There are plenty of threats, one of the more interesting being John Ferguson’s Cry Of Freedom, while the Jason Maguire/Donald McCain axis must be hugely respected with Koup De Kanon, and Richard Fahey’s Ingleby Sprit, while Alshahil & Palawi’s form gives them a strong chance of repeating again.

Elsewhere on the card, Creekside can take the John Smith’s Scottish Triumph Hurdle. Progressive on the flat, when rated 100 after winning a good quality 4 runner handicap at Leopardstown. He could never make the grade or the rise in class of the handicap afterwards, but his hurdling debut was more than satisfactory, when beating the reopposing Uncle Bryn by 2 lengths with a lot in hand at the finish.

He’s now 5lbs worse off with him – not even taking into account Dean Pratt’s 7lbs claim – but is well liked at home based on a starting price of 8/13 and should have more to offer for his second run over hurdles (he was sloppy in places and off the pace before the business end at Carlisle) so may offer a touch of value.

Arguably the highest profile horse running tomorrow may well be Bog Warrior, who returns after a heavy fall on Boxing Day when sent off odds in the Racing Post Novice Chase in the Opera Hat Chase at Naas. For those who need reminding, he had previously delivered one of the most impressive front running displays of recent seasons when cantering home by 31 lengths from Shinrock Paddy at Fairyhouse.

That followed a 7 & ½ length win over Flemenstar on his chasing debut, who has since completed a hat trick, winning the Irish Arkle by 19 lengths on the bridle last time out, which makes him one of the most impressive novices seen this season.  He’s not been seen since Christmas because of the effects of the fall he suffered, with Martin commenting that "He got a right fall and hit his head hard and got confused.”

It’s clear they’ve taken their time with him since but the layoff may lead to him being a decent price with his one serious rival on form – Blackstairmountain – coming off a hard race in the Irish Arkle where he reportedly didn’t cope with the heavy ground, and as such he rated a solid bet.

Advice

3.5 pts Bog Warrior, 1.50 Naas

1 pt win Creekside, 2.05 Musselbrugh

1 pt each/way Ubi Ace, 3.45 Musselbrugh