Horse Racing: Hurdles will be no obstacle for My Arch

My Arch has victories to his credit on the flat and over fences at Musselburgh and can add a hurdles success to his CV when the new jumping season opens tomorrow in East Lothian.

The gelding was sidelined for 18 months after sustaining a serious injury at Perth in the spring of 2008, but was nursed back to fitness by Ollie Pears for whom he made an impressive winning debut over fences on this track at the end of 2009.

The nine-year-old still has regular treatment to his back and reappeared after five months to win the Musselburgh Gold Cup last spring over a mile and three quarters on the level, and later added another victory at Newmarket.

This summer he netted a victory on the flat over two and a quarter miles at Pontefract in June, and he later ran respectively in major staying races like the Northumberland Plate and the Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

The two and a half miles of the opening Scottish Racing Handicap Hurdle (1pm) should put the accent on stamina and can see him score again.

James Reveley has some excellent rides on the seaside circuit and can land a double, beginning with Maggio in the Daikin UK Novices Chase (2pm).

The gelding has yet to score in 18 races, but has been runner-up on five occasions and has some useful form over hurdles, especially when third in a Grade Three event at Navan just about a year ago. He was a hot favourite on his reappearance at Hexham at the end of September and looked sure to score until collared at the final flight.

The winner has since obliged again to boost the form and although Maggio tackles fences for the first time, he can land a belated first victory, while Reveley can also take the concluding Racing UK Newcomers Standard National Hunt Flat Race (4pm) with Reasonable Force.

The five-year-old makes his racecourse debut, but is reported to have been going well at home and is a half-brother to Karingreason who won over hurdles on the East Lothian track last year and he can keep up the family trait.

Madamelily has been favourite in both her races over hurdles this autumn, finishing second at Cartmel and then third at Hexham and she can recoup those losses in the Download Your Free Musselburgh Racecourse App Mares Maiden Hurdle (1:30pm).

The five-year-old has two flat wins to her credit and was runner-up on her hurdling bow on this track just 12 months ago, while she was also third here on the flat in July.

Joe’s Musselburgh Selections: 1.00 My Arch; 1.30 Madamelily; 2.00 Maggio; 4.00 Reasonable Force.