Horse Racing: Vallani due repeat performance

Published on Wednesday 15 February 2012 11:59

Vallani registered the only victory of her career so far at Musselburgh a year ago and can score again in the East Lothian track tomorrow.

The seven-year-old mare was successful at this corresponding meeting last year and clearly loves the sea air, having run well on this circuit on more than one occasion, too.

She was second here in January last year before opening her winning account at the 20th time of asking when staying on strongly and she can take the Watch Live at RacingUK Handicap Hurdle (2.10) over the same three miles, one furlong trip.

She has made the frame in six of her ten races since that initial success and has finished runner-up in her last two starts over this course and distance in early December and on New Year’s Day when she chased home Everaard, who gave the form a big boost when landing a good prize here last Sunday.

Kaolak is another who likes this track. He had some smart form on the level, winning four times and opened his account over hurdles here on New Year’s Day.

The gelding was runner-up three times over hurdles early last year – including twice here – and was third on this course in December before scoring with some authority at the Hogmanay fixture. In between those efforts, he fell at the first fence here in a novice chase and also failed to complete the course on his only other venture over fences. He is clearly best over the smaller obstacles and can give Glasgow trainer Jim Goldie another victory here in the Scottish Racing Your Best Bet Handicap Hurdle (3.45). Meanwhile, Leith Walk has not won since landing a shock 25-1 victory at this fixture two years ago but the mare has been running consistently well and can get back into the winning groove in the Racing UK Handicap Hurdle (3.15).

The nine-year-old was third on her reappearance at Carlisle in October and occupied the same position at Sedgefield before Christmas before being sent off favourite when fourth over this course and distance on New Year’s Day.

That was a decent effort for she was hampered, stumbled badly and almost fell on the bend out of the back straight that day, losing many lengths in the process.

Reasonable Force has shown promise in two bumpers and may be worth support on his hurdling debut in the opening Turf TV Novices Hurdle (1.40).

The six-year-old hails from a stable which does well here and was fifth in a bumper on his racecourse debut on this course before finishing sixth in a similar event at Doncaster last month, looking as though he needed a test of stamina, so the extra half-mile should be in his favour and he will have been well schooled.

Musselburgh Selections: 1.40 Reasonable Force; 2.10 Vallani; 3.15 Leith Walk; 3.45 Kaolak.

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