Eleven runners will be going to the start of the Betway Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh on January 1st. This is a Class 2 race at 1m 7f. There is a clear favourite at the head of the field as well as Ashington is the one to beat.
Musselburgh 14:15 Race Odds*
Ashingyon 9/4
Normal Norman 7/2
Sir Chauvelin 11/2
Snookered 8/1
Project Bluebook 9/1
Newtown Boy 10/1
Peter The Mayo Man 12/1
Aristo Du Plessis 14/1
Fisher Green 20/1
Linganno Felice 25/1
Never Be Enough 33/1
*( betting odds taken from bet365 on December 31st, 2019 at 5:11 pm)
Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
Will Ashington deliver the victory?
There is clear form behind 5 year old Ashington making him favourite for this Musselburgh run out on New Years’ Day. After all this is a course and distance winner, collecting a success at the track back in November by a commanding seven lengths over Astute Boy. With a previous win at Stratford too this season, having nailed two hurdle wins at 2m, the 9/4 favouritism on him is justifiable looking at the card*( betting odds taken from bet365 on December 31st, 2019 at 5:11 pm).
Former winners a threat to Ashington?
Both Normal Norman and Sir Chauvelin are course and distance winners and are expected to mount a challenge to the favourite. Normal Norman hasn’t been seen since pulling up at the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham back in March. So it’s been a while for National Hunt action from him. But he has won a couple of hurdle races between 1m 5f and 2m 1f in his career, and naturally the course and distance win brings him into the picture. He was the winner of this race 12 months ago from a much lower mark.
2018 winner Sir Chauvelin had a bit of a nightmare last time out in a National Hunt race as the 8 year old finished third from last in at the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr in April last year. He has had two run outs at the back end of 2019, taking a third in a 1m 4f Class 2 at Newcastle before coming home fourth in mid-December at 2m. How will he adjust back to the action over the jumps from an 11/2 mark*( betting odds taken from bet365 on December 31st, 2019 at 5:11 pm)?
Snookered is bringing the heat
Irish challenger Snookered, a six year old trained by Brian Eillison has form behind him. Big form at that as he will be looking for his fifth straight race success. Naturally he is up there in the handicap, but with three wins under his belt this season, and at a nice 8/1 quote*( betting odds taken from bet365 on December 31st, 2019 at 5:11 pm) he should have some appeal for punters.
His last run was as 15/8 favourite at Wetherby over 2m in December. He goes up 9lb in weight for Musselburgh. How will he handle that? In total he’s now 33lb higher than when he started his run of wins. Is that too much to defy?
Newtown Boy can get in the picture
Newtown Boy had a good win over a longer trip at Haydock in December. He’s a little more fairly suited to the longer runs but has won at 2 miles before at least. He was a 14/1 winner at Haydock in a decent contest as well as he scrapped out a victory over Informatuer by half a length. He has also collected a win at Kelso this season. The last time he went out at this distance was in May 2018 when he was second in a Class 5 run at Southwell.
Predictions
There’s a great field here with former winners making a return and looking to challenge the progressive favourite Ashington. The five year old looks as if he has plenty more to offer in this step up in company as well having only had three previous starts over the jumps.
Snookered is not one to be ignored however, just because of some brilliant form. The question mark there will be how does handle yet another chunky weight disadvantage? Newtown Boy after his Haydock success could find himself in decent shape over a shorter trip as well and is one to consider.
Bet365 ITV Racing 4/1 Offer
This race is being broadcast live on ITV Racing so it falls into the Bet365 4/1 Winner Offer. Therefore if you back a winner of at least 4/1 odds then you will be able to play a wager to the same stake (up to £50) on the next race broadcast live. If that following selection loses, you will get a stake refunded. The Bet365 offer applies to the FIRST single bet placed by a customer on each race shown live on ITV Racing.
If the following bet were to also win at odds of 4/1 then the offer would roll on to the next qualifying race until the winning sequence at those minimum odds is broken. At that point, you would still end up with the receipt of a refund.
Key Terms & Conditions
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Refund up-to £50 per race.
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If you back the winner of the last race on any day, your risk-free bet will be the first bet you place on the next qualifying race.
Does not apply where a stake has been fully Cashed Out.
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If a qualifying bet is edited using our Edit Bet feature, any refund amount will be equal to the new stake and not the original stake.
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Applies to bets placed on Win and Each-Way Fixed Odds markets and Enhanced Place markets.
Does not apply to Ante-Post bets and Tote/Pari-Mutuel (bets and dividends).
Bets can be paid for from either your Withdrawable Balance or Bet Credits. Bets placed from your Withdrawable Balance will be refunded to your Withdrawable Balance and bets placed with Bet Credits will be refunded as Bet Credits.
Risk-free bets must be placed on the next eligible race using your own funds – if your bet loses then the stake will be refunded to your account shortly after the race.
Refund up-to £50 per race.
The first bet on a race will be deemed as your qualifying bet.
If you back the winner of the last race on any day, your risk-free bet will be the first bet you place on the next qualifying race.
Does not apply where a stake has been fully Cashed Out.
Where a stake has been partially Cashed Out, any refund amount or subsequent risk free bet amount will be equal to the remaining active stake.
If a qualifying bet is edited using our Edit Bet feature, any refund amount will be equal to the new stake and not the original stake.
Where a risk free bet is changed using Edit Bet, no refund will be given and the offer will no longer apply.
Applies to bets placed on Win and Each-Way Fixed Odds markets and Enhanced Place markets.
Does not apply to Ante-Post bets and Tote/Pari-Mutuel (bets and dividends).
Bets can be paid for from either your Withdrawable Balance or Bet Credits. Bets placed from your Withdrawable Balance will be refunded to your Withdrawable Balance and bets placed with Bet Credits will be refunded as Bet Credits.
