16:50 Musselburgh 15 Feb 2026
Virgin Bet Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
Class 5 | 4YO plus
Winner £3,697 - 7 declared to run
Soft-good to soft in places
Draw Advantage: None
Forecast: Light rain
Temperature: 3.8° - 6.9°
Rainfall: 2.76mm
Wind: 7.1 mph SW
Last Update: 14/02/2026 17:00x
- Winner
- Top 3 Finish
- Top 2 Finish
- W/O Cher Tara And National Question
- W/O National Question
- W/O Cher Tara
- Top 4 Finish
Bookies best price percentage = 114.16%
AT THE RACES is not liable for any services or information offered or provided by its bookmaker partners. Please note: Whilst every effort is made to ensure odds and information are up to date and correct, differences between these and actual odds/information available from bookmakers at time of placing a bet may occur.
Made mistakes but ran to form when beaten 9l in a handicap hurdle here last time; had been in good form prior. Effective over 2m on soft and good ground over hurdles and capable off this mark.
A winner of a hurdle race at 2m on good ground. Finished 9l behind Magna Victor when sixth of 9 at 5-1 on his latest outing in a hurdle race here over 2m (good to soft) last month.
Made mistakes but ran to form when beaten 9l in a handicap hurdle here last time; had been in good form prior. Effective over 2m on soft and good ground over hurdles and capable off this mark.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 13 | 1 | 5 | 7.7% | |
| Hurdle | 13 | 1 | 5 | 7.7% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| C | Course | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
| Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| G | Similar Going | 21 | 0 | 5 | 0% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 22 | 2 | 8 | 9.1% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | William Maggs | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| T | I Jardine | 19 | 2 | 7 | 10.5% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Outpaced, flew home, ran to form beaten 2l off a 2lb lower mark at Newcastle last time; effective 2m4f, suited by decent ground but acts on S; running into form for new yard.
A winner of a hurdle race at 2m 4f on good ground. Third of 16 behind Cher Monsieur beaten 1 1/2l at 25-1 on her latest outing in a hurdle race at Newcastle over 2m 4f (good to soft) last month.
Outpaced, flew home, ran to form beaten 2l off a 2lb lower mark at Newcastle last time; effective 2m4f, suited by decent ground but acts on S; running into form for new yard.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 18 | 1 | 4 | 5.6% | |
| Hurdle | 17 | 1 | 4 | 5.9% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| D | Distance | 4 | 1 | 2 | 25% |
| G | Similar Going | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 12 | 1 | 3 | 8.3% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 5 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Hcp | This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Toby McCain-Mitchell | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| T | D Bourke | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Bit below form when comfortably held in a handicap hurdle here last time; off a short-break; effective 2m; needs more than latest up in trip.
Placed in two hurdle races from nine starts. Finished 11l behind Magna Victor when sixth of 11 at 5-1 on his latest outing in a hurdle race here over 2m (good to soft) in December last year.
Bit below form when comfortably held in a handicap hurdle here last time; off a short-break; effective 2m; needs more than latest up in trip.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0% | |
| Hurdle | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| C | Course | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| G | Similar Going | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Dylan Johnston | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| T | Gary Rutherford | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Travelled well but did not find much after a bad error when fourth, beaten 13l, in a handicap hurdle at Newcastle last time. Effective from 2m to 2m4f, acts on heavy and good to soft, and in fair form; should go well again.
Placed in two hurdle races from eight starts. Finished 13l behind Parish Star when fourth of 10 at 7-2 on his latest outing in a hurdle race at Newcastle over 2m 4f (heavy) last month.
Travelled well but did not find much after a bad error when fourth, beaten 13l, in a handicap hurdle at Newcastle last time. Effective from 2m to 2m4f, acts on heavy and good to soft, and in fair form; should go well again.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0% | |
| Hurdle | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| CD | Course and Distance | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| C | Course | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| D | Distance | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| G | Similar Going | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 5 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Hcp | This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Gregor Walkingshaw | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| T | L Russell & M Scudamore | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Found little and may not have stayed when tenth, beaten 34l off 87 last time; runs off the same mark here after a short break. Effective from 2m to 2m4f, acts on heavy and good; inconsistent but remains on a competitive mark.
He has won three hurdle races from 2m 2f to 2m 4f on ground varying from good to soft to heavy. Well beaten at 7-1 behind Reflection Of You when 10th of 13 on his latest outing in a hurdle race here over 3m (good to soft) in December last year.
Found little and may not have stayed when tenth, beaten 34l off 87 last time; runs off the same mark here after a short break. Effective from 2m to 2m4f, acts on heavy and good; inconsistent but remains on a competitive mark.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 21 | 3 | 4 | 14.3% | |
| Hurdle | 21 | 3 | 4 | 14.3% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| CD | Course and Distance | 4 | 1 | 2 | 25% |
| C | Course | 6 | 1 | 2 | 16.7% |
| D | Distance | 11 | 1 | 3 | 9.1% |
| G | Similar Going | 19 | 3 | 2 | 15.8% |
| Headgear | |||||
| HG | Today (T & V) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| HG | Visor | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 5 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 18.8% |
| Hcp | This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Dominic Hislop | 6 | 1 | 2 | 16.7% |
| T | N W Alexander | 22 | 3 | 4 | 13.6% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Improved for the step up in trip and held on in a strongly run race to land a handicap by a head off a 3lb lower mark at Sedgefield last time. Trainer in form; best around 2m-2m4f, acts on soft and good, and in form.
He has won three hurdle races from 2m to 2m 4f on good and good to soft ground. A winner at 16-5 in a hurdle race at Sedgefield over 2m 4f (good to soft) on his latest outing last month, beating Nellie Bluesky by a head. Has also won at Newcastle this season.
Improved for the step up in trip and held on in a strongly run race to land a handicap by a head off a 3lb lower mark at Sedgefield last time. Trainer in form; best around 2m-2m4f, acts on soft and good, and in form.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 14 | 3 | 3 | 21.4% | |
| Hurdle | 14 | 3 | 3 | 21.4% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| C | Course | 5 | 1 | 1 | 20% |
| D | Distance | 2 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| G | Similar Going | 12 | 1 | 1 | 8.3% |
| Headgear | |||||
| HG | Today (P only) | 13 | 3 | 3 | 23.1% |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 5 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 27.3% |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Joshua Thompson | 2 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| T | A Nicol | 26 | 4 | 5 | 15.4% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Ran to form, just outlasted by strong stayer having raced freely beaten a head off this mark at Ayr last time; usually held up; effective 2m-2m4f on Hy and G; cruiser who doesn't find a lot but should again go well.
Placed in two hurdle races from six NH starts. Beaten a head by The Coffey Boy when second of 9 at 9-2 on his latest outing in a hurdle race at Ayr over 2m 4f (soft) earlier this month.
Ran to form, just outlasted by strong stayer having raced freely beaten a head off this mark at Ayr last time; usually held up; effective 2m-2m4f on Hy and G; cruiser who doesn't find a lot but should again go well.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Jumps Races | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0% | |
| Hurdle | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| D | Distance | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| G | Similar Going | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
| Headgear | |||||
| HG | Today (T only) | 9 | 1 | 1 | 11.1% |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 5 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Hcp | This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Ben Smith | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| T | R M Smith | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Verdict
NATIONAL QUESTION received just a 3lb rise after his win at Sedgefield and the consistent six-year-old is a tempting proposition on these terms. Velvet Vulcan also scores highly on that criteria and is dangerous to underestimate as he gets weight all round. Cher Tara completes the shortlist after posting an improved display when third of 16 in this grade at Newcastle last month. That was only her second start since joining Daragh Bourke and there could be more to come.
Expert View Verdict
Velvet Vulcan seems likely to emerge with a chance in the straight, but can he tough it out well enough to have his head in front as they cross the line. CHER TARA may be the better win option after she hit the line well at Newcastle last time on just her second start since leaving Gordon Elliott. She's been nudged up 2lb but still looks fairly weighted. Snow Dragon is of some interest also, the consistent 5yo still being on a fair mark and getting on well for his rider.
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Race Record
| Distance | Record Time |
|---|---|
| 2m 3f 171y | 4:46.90 |