Sunday 15th February 2026
We have four selections on Sunday from Musselburgh, the first of which comes within the 2.50, a handicap hurdle over a mile and seven and a half furlongs. It could pay to side with the ten-year-old SCOTS POET here for Ewan Whillans and Conor O’Farrell. He bounced back to form when returning over hurdles last time out, finishing third of thirteen at Catterick, and has been generously dropped a further pound following that run. He’s won off considerably higher marks than this in the past, including over course and distance. He’s got every chance of going well. The main danger is likely to come from Inca Prince for Ruth Jefferson, he’s also a course and distance winner and is also on a tumbling mark.
Next up for us is the 3.50, a Class 5 handicap hurdle contested over three miles. Harry Derham could hold the key here with CRYSTELLO, who is Paul O’Brien’s mount. He makes his handicap debut here, having been tried over shorter distances within maiden and novice company, and significant improvement is highly likely from the five-year-old. He was second over three miles in a point, and he’s also up against much more exposed rivals here. The outsider of the field, Artic Mann, could outrun his odds here for Nick Alexander; he was third here on his penultimate start, and the twelve-year-old has ten pounds coming off his back here via Dominic Hislop’s claim.
Our third selection of the afternoon comes in the 4.20, a Class 4 handicap chase ridden over two miles and seven and a half furlongs. This could be another affair in which Harry Derham and Paul O’Brien team up for success, and on this occasion, with seven-year-old JUS DE CITRON. He won on his rules debut over hurdles, getting the better of the very useful Jordans Cross in the process, and made a very encouraing start to life over fences at Newcastle last time out when finishing a keeping-on third of seven, eventually finishing a length behind the winner. He should naturally take another step forward here, and is a definite player off just a two-pound higher mark. Sandy Thomson’s Bridge Court would be the main danger if he returned to the form of his nose second of seven at Catterick in December, as that run came off the same mark as his current one.
The fourth and final pick of the afternoon for us comes in the concluding race of the day at Musselburgh, the 4.50, and this is a Class 5 handicap hurdle for conditional jockeys over two miles and four furlongs. Mike Smith’s VELVET VULCAN looks very solid here under three-pound claimer Ben Smith. He’s been narrowly denied in each of his last two starts, finishing a neck second on both occasions. The most recent of those efforts came just a few days ago at Ayr, giving the impression that he’s ready to strike. He should go very close off the same mark. The clear main danger is National Question for Adam Nichol, he’s won two of his last four starts, including last time out at Sedgefield.
2.50 Musselburgh – SCOTS POET – 9/2 (Each-Way)
3.50 Musselburgh – CRYSTELLO – 7/4 (Win) (NB)
4.20 Musselburgh – JUS DE CITRON – 15/8 (Win) (NAP)
4.50 Musselburgh – VELVET VULCAN – 7/2 (Win)
